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FOREST AND STREAM SERIES, No. 2. 

PRACTICAL 



gOG fRAINING; 



OR, 



Training ys. Breaking, 



S. T. HAMMOKD, 

KENNEL EDITOR OP "FOREST AND STREAM. 




NEW YORKy 
FOREST AND STREAIVl PUBLISHING COIVIPANY, 

39 PARK now. 

1882. 
Copyright, 1882, Forest and Stream Publishing Co. 



SF4 
NOTE. 

The system of dog training described in this book is a 
new one. Its fundamental principles were adopted by 
the writer thirty years ago ; the details of the method, 
as here given, have been developed and perfected by 
him during that time. His own success with it has 
encouraged the belief that its publication would be wel- 
comed by the thousands of Am-^ ican sportsmen who 
own and handle field dogs. This belief, it is a pleasure 
to say, has been confirmed by the marked favor accord- 
ed to the successive chapters as they appeared in, the 
Forest and Stream, from which journal they are here 
reprinted. 

This system is humane and rational. It is also prac- 
tical and efficient. Dog training differs essentially from 
dog breaking, both in method and spirit, and also in 
what may be accepted as the test of all systems, namely: 
the results attained. 

The pages of this book contain no theories. They are 
a plain, simple record of the plan which has been tested 
by the writer in the field, year after year. He believes 
that the same plan may be followed by others with 
equal success. It is, therefore, with the fullest confi- 
dence in the merits of this system of Dog Training vs. 
Dog Breaking, that it iu submitted to the public. 

The story of "My Old Dog Trim " is added, because 
from his day the author dates his conversion to the 
belief that training is better than breaking. The sketch 
of "The One-Eyed Grouse of Maple Run" is also given, 
that the reader may have in it some of the "reasons for 
the faith that is in us," when we advise the introduction 
of the youngsters to the haunts of this royal bird. 
These sketches are also given as illustrative of some of 
the i3leasures enjoyed in the field in the companionship 
of a well-trained dog. S. T. H. 

Forest and Stream Office, March, 1882, 



TRAINING YS. BREAKING. 
Chapter I. 

NEARLY all writers upon the subject of dog training ap- 
pear to think that there is but one course to pursue. 
That all knowledge that is not beaten into a dog is worthless 
for all praciical purposes, and that the whip, check-cord and 
spike-collar, with perhaps an ccca£,*-onal charge of shot or a 
vigorv^us dose of shoe leather, are absolutely necessary in 
order to perfect his education. 

It may appear presumptions for us to advocate a departure 
from the beaten path, but as we have had some little experience 
in the past thirty years, and as many sportsmen who shouM 
be good authority have seen our dogs at work, and have 
unanimously united in pr dse of the manner in which thry 
acquit themselves in the field, we have thought that per- 
haps a description of our m^^thod of training might prove in- 
teresting- It will be so at least to the new beginner. The 
main object that we have in view is the amelioration of <he 
present condition of "man'sbest friend," and should the per- 
usal of these lines cause even but one to follow the course 
here marked out, we shall feel amply r- paid for our labor. 

We have ever been possessed of a great love deep down in 
the heart for our canine pets, and this love is the main spring 
that governs all our actions tow .rd them. We do not wish 
to be understood as meaning that we never use the whip fur 
-^^e believe wi(h the wise king of old that the r d should not 
be spared when it is needed. What we do mean is this : 
There is no dog worth the raising — we are speaking of point- 
ers and setters— tbat cannot and will not learn all that it is 
necessary for him to know without a single blow being struck 
or a single harsh word being spoken. We are very well 
aware that this humane course will entail a little more labor, 
end that a vast deal more patience is required than when de- 
pendence is placed upon the whip and boot-heel to enforce 



3 TEAINING ds, BREAKING. 

your commands, but the intelligent and cheerful manner la 
which your pet obeys your slightest word or motion will 
much more than compensate you for the extra time that you 
have devoted to his education. There is nothing that so 
mars our enjoyment when in the field as to see the cringing 
form of a noble animal cowering in fear of a whipping, 
which nine times out of ten he does not deserve half so much 
as his master. 

We do not claim absolute perfection for our system nor that 
you can by adopting it invariably succeed in turning out a 
well trained, well behaved dog, for we know that with dogs 
as well as with men we often find one who for lack of brains 
will never amount to much, no matter what pains we take 
with him. 

Irf selecting a puppy there are many things to be taken in- 
to consideration. In the first place we must be sure that both 
sire and dam are first class field performers. This 
wc consider of the utmost importance. They must also 
be possessed of endurance, and must be reasonably inteJi- 
gcnt. The more ancestors of this type that our pup can 
boast the better will he suit us. He must also have life and 
ambition; indeed we care not how high strung he is, for al- 
though he may not submit to restraint qaite so readily as 
his sleepy brother, yet when you once have him under sub- 
jection he will not only mind more quickly, but he will do 
his work better and much more of it. Of course he mu?t be 
well formed, and we should like him to be of good color and 
coat, but these last are not indispensible as we much prefer 
good performance to good looks. 

Having selected our pup, we will take him home when he 
is fcix to eight weeks old, and at once begin his education. 
Many writers will tell you that your dog should be much 
older before you begin to instil into his mind even the rudi- 
ments of knowledge. If you are going to pursue their sys- 
tem of instruction, we should advise you by all means to put 
olf the evil day as long as possible ; but if you are to follow 
our plan, begin at once ; not a moment is to be lost. In the 
first place you want to srcure his affection and entire Confi- 



FIRST LESSONS. 3 

denco. TMs will be the first Jesso.i, and nothing more should 
be attempted until you have complelely won his heart and 
taught him to place the utmost co jfidence in you. At llis 
tender age his mind is easily impressed, and will long retain 
the ideas now formed ; and it will take but a few days to 
teach him to love you with all his heart. If possible, give 
him a gocd roomy pen on the ground, with a warm, well- 
sheltered house or box in which to lie. Do not forget that 
he will be very lonesome for a few days, and therefore glad 
to see you of ten ; and you cannot better employ your time 
than in paying him a visit every half hour for the first day or 
two. Always, when you go to see him, have a bit of some- 
thing for him to eat that he will relish. As you approach 
the pen you should invariably blow upon your whi&!:le the 
note that you intend to use to call him in. We sound a ioDg 
ncta for this purpose, beginning loud and gradually dying 
away. This, with a short, sharp note to attract altenti n, is 
all the signal that we ever soucd upon the whistle ; the last vre 
do not use until his education is further advanced. By asso- 
ciatiug this long note with something good to eat, it will soon 
become fixed in his mind that when he hears it he must run 
to you as fast as he can. We much prefer to have two pups, for 
it takes no more time to teach them both than it does to teach 
one, as they will learn from each other ; and if one is in- 
clined to be dilatory we withold his reward, and he, seeing the 
01 her one enjoying his customary allowance while he is him- 
self deprived of his share, at once comprehends the true 
reason and will be on hand the next time. 

Do not fail to abundantly caress him and speak kindly 
words, and never under any circumstances, no matter what 
the provocation, allow yourself to scold or strike him, as this 
is entirely at variance with our system, and is sure to result 
in the defeat of our plars. Should he juTip upon you with 
his dirty feet, or tear your clothes with his sharp teeth, do 
not get angry and cuff him, but gently yet firmly pi ce him 
upon the ground or unclasp his jaws from your garments, 
consoling yourself with the thought that in a short time you 
Will have him so well in hand that he will know better than 



4 TRAINING vs. BREAKING. 

[o commit these faults. Be very gentle with him at all times; 
carefully study his dispositioc, and learn all of his ways that 
ff ;u may the more readily understand just how to manage 
him. You should be in perfect sympathy with him and 
liumor all his whims and notions and endeavor to teach him 
that you truly love him. In a short time you will find 
that this love will be returned ten fold, and that he is ever 
anxiously wa+ching for your coming, and never so happy as 
when in your presence and enjoying your caresses. 

After a few days you may begin to train him, but do not 
be in a hurry about it, as nothing is gained by haste. • Be 
very careful now, and do not ruin all by an undue haste ; go 
very slow, carefully feel your way, and, above all things, 
exercise an unwearied patience ; and if at any time you find 
the strain upon your nerves growing a little too tense, leave 
him at once and wait until you are perfectly calm before re- 
Euming the lesson. 

There is one thing, of the utmost importance, that we wish 
to particularly impress .upon your mind before we go any 
further. Do not allow yourself under any circumstances to 
speak to your pupil in anything but your ordinary tone of 
voice. There is nothing that is mere annoying when shoot- 
ing than to have a companion continually yelling at the top 
of his voice to his dog, and generally without any effect. 
.Now, such yelling is worse than useless, f r if your dog is 
properly trained in the first place, he will readily mind your 
I'ghtest word. For your own comfort, then, and for the 
pieature of whoever may accompany you upon your shooting 
excursions, use nothing but gentle tones when you issue your 
commands. When this very disagreeable habit of shouiing 
is once commenced, you will soon find that a still louder tone 
is demanded, and had you the lungs of a Stentor, it will not 
be long before your resources will be exhausted, and you wil 
vainly sigh for thunder tones to voice your words of com- 
mand. 

The first thing that we endeavor to teach a pup, after we 
obtain his love and confidence, is to stop at the words To 
ho. This is a very important point, and comparatively 



FIRST LESSON 8. 5 

easy to teach him. He should be very hungry when you 
commence tht se first lessons, as his eagerness for the food 
^vill Cause him to pay you close attention ; and when he un- 
derstands that as soon as he performs his t ;sk his reward is 
sure, and that he cannot have it before, he will anxiously 
strive to do whatever you may require of him. You should 
begin by giving him a taste of a piece of meat, then secure, 
a firm hold upon his collar, and place a small piece upon the 
ground in front of him. He will struggle with all his strength 
to get at it, but hold him steadily, and do not say a word 
uuiil he becomes partially quiet ; then move his nose a lit'le 
nearer, and, in your ordinary tone of voice, say To ho, 
with a falling accent upon the last syllable. Do not repeat 
the words just yet, and when you do be very careful that 
your voice is not strained and unnatural; we always ac- 
company this word with the right hand raised warningly, for 
it 3nay often happen that we wish our dog to c )me to a halt 
at some distance from us, and by accustomiag him to the 
gesture he will soon learn to stop as far as he caa see you. 
Most sportsmen use this signal to mak 3 their dogs charge, 
but as we sh ill show further on, when we come to it, the 
other plan is much better. After a few secon is the dog will 
become more quiet, and you can r peat the words. Now 
careluly watch him, and as soon as his attention is fixed upon 
the meat, and he looks at it stead. ly for a second, release 
your hold and cluck to him as a signal that he can now have 
it, and at once praise and pet him, and give him to under- 
stand that he has done something woxderful, and that you 
are pleased with him. We should have stated before that, from 
the first, V henever you place his food before him you should 
always cluck to him, as he will thus learn the meaning of 
the sound, and understand when he hears it that all restraint 
is removed. 

After the first trial do not try him again until the next 
time that you feed him; for should you force him he may 
grow weary and fail to respond with that cheerfulness and 
al ;crity that is so pleasing to see. You must be very care- 
ful that he does not get at the meat until you give him per- 



6 TRAINING vs. BREAKING. 

mission, for he must understand that you mean bus'ness 
every time, and that he caanot have it until he becomes per- 
fectly quiet and hears your signal. After a few lessons of 
this kind, if you have managed right, you will be surprised 
to see the improvement that he will make and the zest with 
V. hich he will enter into the spirit of it. You can soon leavG 
him free, acd he will readily point at tho word; and wlih 
proper carj he will soon karn to point when the meat is 
thrown to quite a distance from him. Of course you will 
understand that the distance must be increased very gradu- 
ally, and implicit obedience exacted every time. Should he 
move £0 much as one step after you give him the word, you 
must instantly place him as near as may be in his former 
position, at the same time repeating the word ; and t!iis must 
be done gently yet firmly until he becomes steadfast. To 
much importance cannot be attached to th's; indeed, it is 
the groundwork of our whole system ; and unless you 
thoroughly instill into his mind the knowledge that jou 
mean just whit you say, and must be obeyed to the very 
letter, and that he cannot vary the fraction of an inch from 
the rule that you have laid down, it wi 1 not be of any use to 
continue further, for under our system — or any other — it will 
be utterly impossible to turn out a wed trained animal unless 
we strictly adhere to the above rub and exact implicit o",:e- 
dience every time. 

After he once undertstands thit he must mind, your task 
is half accomplished, the rest is comparatively easy, and 
you will indeed find it a labor of love to perfect his educa- 
tion. 

In giving these first lessons do not re nove him from his 
pen, as new surroundings will serve to distract his attention 
from the business on hand, and your task will be all the 
harder. Indeed it is m ich better to avoid all training out- 
s'de the pen until your pupil is well established in what you 
have taught him. Should it not be convenient to have a pea 
for him, any good sized room or inclosure that he cannot get 
out of, will answer for training purposes. Do not allow any 
spectators i:i these first lessons, as you want his undivided 



FIBST LESSONS. 7 

attention. We know that there is great satisfaction in show- 
ing off the little fellow's accomplishments to one's friends, 
but-until you are quite sure that he will obey when strangers 
are near, it is much b tter to practice him alone than to Lave 
him go back on you before folks where you might feel a 
little delicacy about enforcin ; your commands. 



CHA.PTER IL 

CANINE ACOOMPLISHMENTS. 

WHILE teachiDg our pup to charge, his other lesson 
must by no means be neglected, but plenty of prac- 
tice must be sandwiched in until he appears to thoroughly 
understand the meaning of To ho, and will readily stop at 
the word or upraised hand. When he is reasonably perfect 
in this, you can vary the lesson by placing the food upon 
your knee, as you sit by him, and bringing his nose very 
close to it, and after a while, as he improves, you can lay the 
morsel upon his nose and he will soon learn to hold perfectly 
still and retain any attitude that you may place him in. As 
he advances in knowledge, you should take a piece of meat 
of good size, that he cannot swallow, and carefully open his 
mouth— this you caa do by clasping your hand around his 
muzzle and gently forcing the thumb and flng(rs between 
his jaws— and placing the piece therein, at the same time 
commanding him to To lio. Do not remove your hand from 
his jaws, but hold him lightly yet firmly ; for although ihe 
chances are in favor of his understanding what is wanted, 
and obeying readily, still it is necessary to retain the grasp 
as we are not through with him yet ; and should the taste of 
the meat prove too tempting and he undertake to bolt it, 
you, having a good hold of him, can at once open his mouth 
and secure the meat. As soon as he comprehends what you 
require and remains perfectly quiet, gently force open his 
mouih ard take the meat from him, at the same time telling 
him to " drop," and at once reward him with a piece of some 
other kind of meat, thus teaching him that he cannot eat the 
first piece, nor even mouth it, but must deliver it safe into 
your hand. We generally use a piece of tough, partly- 
cookecl beef for the trial, and are very particular in our first 
lessons^ of this kind to reward him with a bit of liver or 
something entirely different from the large piece. The utility 
of this lesson we will explain further on, only remarking 



THE CHAIN, 9 

here that we consider it of vital imporiance that our pupil 
should be thoroughly trained in this, for we ,thmk it to be 
one of his most necessary lessons, and too much time cannot 
be expended in perfecting him in this branch of his educa- 
tion. He should become so perfect in this that he will take 
the smallest bit of meat in his mouth and hold it perfectly 
still, without the slightest movement of his jaws, and deliver 
it readily into your hand without reluctance. 

You should accustom him to the restraint of the chain 
very early in his career, for the longer you wait the harder 
will be the task ; he should be chained up two or three times 
esch day, f ' r a little while only at a time, taking care that 
he is perfectly quiet when you loose him. Should he be very 
restless and uneasy, you must soothe him with kind words 
and pet him until he becomes quiet, and on no account un- 
fasten him until he ceases his struggles and remains calm for 
a little while, thus teaching him that bowlings and strug- 
glings will not set him free. Be very careful to see that he 
cannot break his collar nor slip .it over his head, nor break 
his c':ain, for it is of the utmost importance that your lessons 
should be thorough, and that at no time should he get the 
idea into his head that there is any possible course except 
implicit obc dience to your wishes. Great care must be taken 
at all times, in all his lessens, that Jie is not kept under 
restraint for too long a time, but the increase of time must 
be none the less sure, although very gradual and almost im- 
perceptible. Much will depend upon his disposition in this, 
which, if you have carefully s'.udied, you will be able to 
manage, so that he shall not b:come disgusted and be an un- 
willing pupil. At the slightest indication that he is getting 
weary of instruction, you must let up a little and pro- 
ceed slower, but with such care and good judgment that 
he shall not mistrust the reason; and if you pursue the 
proper course and manage him rightly, you will be amp'y re- 
paid when he comes to maturity in witnessing the intelligent 
and cheerful manner in which he will obey your commands 
and submit to long continued restraint without a murmur. 
We accustom our pup from the first to the society of 



10 TRAINING m, BREAKINO. 

fowls, and if possible procure a brood of chickens for him 
to associate with. We greatly prefer game fowls for this 
purpose, for we think they are possessed of stronger scent, 
thus being more attractive to him, and making him all the 
more eager to investigate them, while the mother being much 
more brave in their defense than a common dunghill will at 
his first attempt to chase or worry them give him a lesson 
that he will never forget. Upon the occasion of his first in- 
troduction to them, do not allow him to mistrust that you 
have planned the interview, but let him accidentally come 
upon them while at play ; he may not chase, but the chances 
are that he will make a rush for them. Do not stir, but 
calmly say, To ho, and leave the rest to the old hen. 
Should he hear you and stop, you must caress and praise 
him. Should he "point" them, do not encourage, neither 
must you prevent him, but take no notice of it, for 
should he find that it was pleasing to you he might form 
habits that would not always prove satisfactory. On the 
other band, should you discourage him he would perhaps 
think it was wrong to point, so that the best way is to 
leave him alone, and Kt him point to his heart's content, 
thankful that he has the instinct, and content to patiently 
await the proper time to so direct this wonderful gift that 
its display shall minister to your pleasure and afford you 
abundant enjoyment. 

There is one other point to which we wish to call your 
attention while we are upon the subject. If you have 
hunted much you have undoubtedly see a dog3 that would 
point rabbits and perhaps chase them. Noiv, that our pupil 
may not be guilty of such indiscretion, when old enough 
to take the field, we will proceed to so train him that he will 
Eever pay them the slightest attention. We always obtain, 
if possible, a pair or more of our common wild rabbits ; if 
these cannot be had tbe tame variety will answer. Then we 
build them a hu ch alongside the puppy's pen, with a hole 
communicating just large enough for them to pass through, 
that they may visit him at their pleasure and readily escape 
should he be too familiar, and our word for it you never 



POINTING FUR. 11 

need fear tbat your dog is poiDting a rabbit. We once pur- 
chased for a song a magniflceDt dog, which was entirely 
worthless from this cause. Although he had an excellent 
nose, and was perfectly staunch, he would point every 
rabbit that came in his way, and would "draw" on their 
trail, and you could never make sure but he was leading 
you after one of these pests instead of a bird. We took 
him home and placed him in a k'Tge yard, with several of 
his bob-tailed friends, and left him to his fate. He pointed 
them steadily all the afternoon, and refused to leave them to 
eat his supper. What he did during the night we cannot 
say, but when we visited him in the morning, although he 
was lying down, he was still staunchly pointing, but appar- 
ently very tired. He did leave them long enough to eat his 
breakfast, but as soon as it was down he immediately re- 
sumed his work. This went on for nearly a week before he 
appeared to weaken, and before the close of the second 
week he evidently had had enough of it. We then took 
him into the field, taking pains to go where rabbits were 
plenty, but not once did he pay them the slightest attention, 
nor was he ever known to notice them again. For the 
sam e reason we like to have cats about the house that our 
pup may become well acquainted with them before he com- 
mences huntmg. 

We should have mentioned before that the pup should be 
let out of his pen for a good run, at least twice a day, and 
if he will remain about the house and not stray away, we 
should much prefer to let him run all the time, for the more 
exercise that he gets the better will it be for his strength 
and endurance in the future, and the less he is confined the 
better will it be for his courage and confidence. 

While our pup is yet youtg he should be taught to love the 
Eoucd of the gun. This can be easily accomplished if the 
proper course is pursued. In the fir-t place we take a couple 
of old tin pans, and while his attention is attracted by 
something that interests him we strike them together, lightly 
at first ; and if he appears to be afraid we are very careful not 
to add to his fright by a repetition of the noise anywhere 



13 TBAININO m. BREAKING. 

near him, but take the pans to quite a distaace from his pen 
and leave them, and wait awhile before trying again. When 
it is time to feed him we go to the pans, and while sounding 
our whistle, as before described, to let him know that we are 
coming, we give a stroke just loud enough for him to hear 
plainly, and at once proceed to his pen acd give him his 
feed. By pursuing this course for a few days, and gradually 
goiug a little closer every time, he will become accustomed 
to the sound, and learning that the noise is connected with 
our coming, and also his dinner, he soon gets used to it, and 
in a short time will stand the racket without flnching. When 
he has become so accustomed to the noise that he shows no 
signs of fear at quite a loud crash it is time to try him with 
the gun. In order to do this understand in gly you will re- 
quire an assistant. Let him take the gun loaded with a light 
charge of powder and stand at some little distance— say forty 
or fifty yards away— and be ready at your signal to fire. 
You will now enter his pen, and after he gets a little quiet 
call him to you and put a piece of meat before him and bid 
him Toho^ at the same time raising your hand as a signal for 
the gun. Carefully watch him, and should he display any 
sign of fear the experiment must be repeated as with the 
pans. There is no need of your presence only to notice how 
he behaves, and you can dispense with your assistant, unless, 
as will probably be the case, he does not mind the report, 
when the gun can be brought nearer, and you can make 
another trial. Great care must be taken not to frighten him 
with too loud a discharge, nor should it be too close to him, 
until he gets used to it. By paying close attention to him 
when under fire, you can readily tell how far it will do to go, 
and by properly conducting your experiment you can soon 
teach him to love the sound of the gun, even when fired over 
his head ; indeed we have cured in this way some of the 
worst cases of gun- shyness that we ever saw. Comparatively 
few dogs are gun-shy, and it is with these only that thosi 
precautions are necessary. After your pup has been care- 
fully accustomed to the noise do not lay the gun aside as 
soon as you have accomplished your object, but let him hear 



SOUND OF THE GUN, 13 

the sound occasionally until his education is complete, taking 
good care that the discharge of the gun is at once followed by 
something pleasing to him— his dinner, for instance— or let it 
be a prelude to giving him his liberty, thus giving him to un- 
derstand that the noise means something, and soon the noise, 
or even the sight of the gun, will cause him pleasurable emo- 
tions that he will never forget. 



CHAPTER III. 

OHAEGS I 

E will take it for granted that, after a week or two of 
daily practice, our pupil has so far advanced in his 
education as to be rea onably proficient in his performance 
at To ho, and we will now take another step and try him 
with something new, and endeavor to teach him ihe meaning 
of the word charge. As this word is in constant use among 
sp Ttsmen the world over, we always teach our dogs its 
meaning ; but for our own use we greatly prefer a low 
breathed /8'7i / It is just as effective and far more quiet, es- 
pecially when you take your dog into company, for instead 
of attracting the attention of every one in the room by 
commanding him to charge, you cai give him this signal, 
and scarcely one even of those nearest you \^ ill notice it. 
We have used this for more than twenty years, and can 
heartily recommend it. Most persons train their dogs to 
charge at the upraised hand. We do not quite like this, and 
have never adopted the custom, for it very seldom occurs 
that you wish your dog to drcp at any great distance from 
1 ou, but should you from any cause wish your dog to remain 
quiet when he is at a distance, how much better it is to teach 
him to come to a full stop at the raising of your hand, and 
remain upon his feet when he can see you and be ready to 
obey your next signal. Even at the discharge of the gun or 
rise of the bird, we greatly prefer that the djg, instead of 
charging, should instantly stop and stand up, where he can 
readily see what U going on. There are many arguments in 
favor of this course that we will not mention until we get 
fun her on. 

We will now take our pupil in hand and see if we cm 
teach him to "charge." Piac9 one hand upon his shoulders 
and nLck and the other upon his hips, and gently, yet 
firmly, force him to a recumbent position, at the same time 
repeat the word chxirge^ prefaced with the low 8li—. Do not 



CHARGE! 15 

forgst to U'se only your natural tcne, at the same time the 
word must be spoken in a decided way that cannot be mis- 
taken for entreaty instead of command. This word must 
not be spoken more than once, and given with a falling irio 
flection ; keep him in portion unal he ceases struggling and 
his muscles relax. After a second or two, if he leniains 
quiet, lemove your hands and allow him to get up. By 
using the words "hold up " or ''get up " in this cmnection 
he will soon learn their n:eaniDg ; but do not do this until he 
appeal's to understand what you wmt of him, and on no 
cccount, no malter how long the struggle continues, should 
yiu repeat tbe word, nor let up on him one particle, for 
everything depends on first impressions, and as soon as your 
pupil finds that his strurgles to escape avail him nothing, and 
that relentless ai fate you are bound to conquer and acc:>m- 
plish your purpose, he will at each successive lesson be more 
willing to yield. To this persistent painstaking and un- 
wearied perseverance in sticking to our point until our object 
is accomplished do we owe much of our success in training. 

We must a^ain repeat that all this time you must keep 
perfectly cool, and muit suffer no sign to escape ycuof anger 
or impatience ; for if you cannot control your temper you 
are not the oce to train a dog, and had better resort to the 
breaking process at once. 

Great care should be taken to place the pup in a natural 
position. When you force him down see that Lis hind legs 
are squarely under his body and his fore-legs advanced well 
in front, with the head resting between or upon th- m, and 
always insist upon this position. 

In the first few lessons it is not necessary to keep him in 
position more than a second or two, but be very careful th it 
he understands that you are to be the judg ) of the prop r 
time when he may get up. As he grows older the time can 
be very gradually extended, according to his disposition. 
Should he bo very nervous and excitable, great care must be 
hid that he d es not get heart-broken with unnecessary and 
long continued res'raint. 

Do not expect that he will at once become perfect in any- 



16 TMAINING vs. BREAKING. 

thing that you may teach him, but possess your soul in pa- 
tience and allow and encourage him to act out his puppy 
ways and to play and frolic to .his heart's content, alv?ays ex- 
cepting, of course, the few moments that you devote to his 
lessons. Above all tbing^, carefully refrain from anything 
that looks like restraint in your ordin try intercourse with 
him, and endeavor to instill into his mind that you are his 
loving friend, and that nothing suits you better than to see- 
him thoroughly enjoy Mmself. We have found by experi- 
ence that dogs are very much like men in some respects. 
They both are possessed of a superabundance of steam that 
must have vent somehow, and it is much better to get rid of 
the surplus while your pupil is of too tender an age to work 
any serious harm, than to bottle it up for escape in the future, 
when added years and knowledge are very prone to turn the 
current into dangerous channels. How much better it is to 
allow your boy to chise the gaudy butterfly and to encour- 
age him to renewed efforts and let him learn for him :ef, 
that even if he is successful in securing the object of his de 
sire, that the chase is futile and will not pay for bruised 
and tired limbs and soiled and torn clothes — how much bet- 
ter this than to keep him unwilling at your side, with his 
young heart almost bursting to essay the trial and sowing 
the seed that in a few years will ripen and cause him a', the 
first opportune moment to break, not for butterflies now, 
but in a wild chase for forbidden pleasures that the restrain s 
of his childhood make doubly dear. Do not think tiiat we 
are moralizing ; we are only illustrating. Therefore, when 
your pupil gives chase to the "butterflies of youth," do not 
check him, but rather urge him on, that he may the sooner 
discover the fallacy of the pursuit. In the meantime consols 
yourself with the thought that he is working off his surplus 
steam and will all the sooner settle down to the real duties of 
life and do you no discredit by Wild escapades in his mature 
J ears. 

There is one thing that we consider of paramount impor- 
tance— our pup must staunchly point when he is from six to 
ten weeks old. If he will not do this naturally and of his 



CHARGE ! 17 

own free will, quickly dispose of Mm to some one who is not 
so particular, and try again. Although his breeding may be 
of the best and tbe chances in favor of his pointing in the 
future, still there are so many elements of chance in raising 
up dogs that we should strive to eliminate at least all of the 
doubtful ones. We have yet to see the dog that would make 
a gamy point at ihis tender age who would not fulfill the 
promise in his riper years; while "t)'e woods are full of 
them" that, ha virtg passed their youth without displaying 
this, "heaven born gift " still make no sign. It is not 
necessary that he should be tried on game birds -al- 
though this is desirable — but any bird will answer the- 
purpose; a fowl or chicken will ;d) first-rate, or 
almost anything that will attract Tais attention so that 
he makes a staunch point. Do not force this upon him, but 
merely give him a chance to discover the bird or chicken 
himself, and if he has this instinct implanted within him you 
may depend upon his showing it. Many pups who will 
staunchly point at this age may, perhaps, a few weeks or 
months later, show no sign; give yourself no uneasiness on 
this account, for you know that the instinct is there and, al- 
though it may be dormant l^r a while, you can rest secure 
thai it will return in proper season. 

Do not forget during all your lessons, and while at play 
with him, to pet and fondle him ; but do not allow him to 
jump upon you at any time. Whenever he does this you 
should at once firmly remove him and he will soon learn that 
this will not do. You should also talk to him— not baby 
talk— but use intelligent, rational language, just such as you 
would use in talking to a ten year old boy, and ycu will be 
surprised to see how soon he will understand your conversa- 
tion. We are well aware that many persons will ridicule 
thiSj and will claim that a dog should be taught just as Utile as 
vd 1 answer to make him understand his duties while in the 
field, and that what they term " fancy training " is a positive 
injury to his usefulness. We have no sympathy with these 
views, for nearly all of the pleasure derived from our shoot- 
ing trips is in witnessing the intelligent manner in which our 



18 TRAINING vs. BREAKING. 

pets perform their duties* aad well satisfied are we that tbe 
more varied their accomplishments and the more* developed 
their rea;}oiiing faculties, the moreeajoyment will they afford. 
That many writers of renown disagree with us upon this 
point is true ; and formerly, while perusing the fiaished pro 
ductions of their able pens, we have been haunted by linger- 
ing doubts that after all perhaps they were right and that our 
system was open to serious objections ; but after a tramp 
over the stubble or through the covert with these same v^Tit- 
ers, and witnessing tliG delight with which they gazed upon 
the performance of our dogs, and listening to the lavish en- 
comiums which tbey bestowed upon their good behavior, we 
have been confirmed in the faith that our system is not radi- 
cally wrong, to siy the least. Many sportsmen whom we 
have met in the field insist upon cangratulating us upon the 
wonderful good luck that we have had in obtaining such in- 
telligent animals. That they are intelligent is plain to be 
seen ; that they are naturally more so than thousands of 
others we cannot believe, for we have had considerable ex- 
perience with many strains of both pointers and setters. Of 
pointers we have owned the "gazelle-eyed," satin-coated, 
light weight beauties, and many of the different strains and 
crosses up to the lumbering Spaniard; and of setters we have 
cultivated the "wi'd Irishman," as well as his more staid 
English and Scotch brothers, together with many animals of 
our grand old native stock, and have ever found them all en- 
dowed with faculties that needed but proper training to 
develop them into intelligent companions as well as first class 
" killing " dogs. 

We will now return to our pupil, whom we have given 
quite a rest — and continue our lessons, ever remembering th it 
we must "hasten slowly," and not over-burden his youthful 
days with care and sorrow by too frequent or long continu d 
restraint. Unless he is very dull and stupid, or inclined to 
be refractory, or worse than all, sulky, a very short time is 
sufficient to give him all the instruction and practice needed, 
indeed the shorter the time occupied in his lessons at this 
tender age the better, provided you succeed in obtaining an 
intelligent obedience to your commands. 



CHARGE! 19 

You should be pretty well ar-quain^ed with his disposition 
by this time, and be able \o form an opinion as to whether it 
will pay to keep him or try again. We are very loth to ex- 
pend much time with a dull or stupid one, and a sour or 
sulky disposition we abominate, and dispose of such as soon 
as may be. We are best suited when a pup is full of life 
and shows that he has a will of his own, We care not if he 
be headstrong, even willful, s » that he is full of life and ac- 
tion, for we have ever found that these high-strung animals 
are not on^y possessed of greats r intelligence than their les ; 
sensitive companions, but as a rule they are m^re k-lling 
dogs, to say notbing of the greater pleasure that they aflford 
by their superior style of going. Should his temperament 
appear to be what you desire, thankfully proceed with your 
pleasurable task. 

You must be careful when you commence his lesson that 
you do not crofs him by beginning when he has something 
of importance upon his mind that will distract his attention 
from the business on hand ; if he is busy with a bone, or 
engaged at play or his mind appears to be preoccupied, leave 
him quietly alone until he is disengaged, and then go on with 
tbe lesson ; by pursuiug this coursa you will secure his un- 
divided attention, and not only save time, but much wear 
and tear of your stock of patience, it will be time enough 
to teach him that he must leave his bone or cease his play at 
your command when he is a little older and a little further 
advanced in his education ; at the same time should you un- 
thinkiEgly order Ldm to do anything while he is engaged, 
you must see to it that the order is obeyed at all haz.rds, for 
it will U' ver do to play fast-and-loose wi h h'm, nor to allow 
him to get the idea into his head that he can ever have his 
own way, when you desire the contrary. After you have 
taughi^, him to charge readily without the all of your had to 
force him down, you can gradually increase your distance 
from him when you give the order ; and if you are very 
careful to make him instantly obey you, and do not allow him 
to take even a single step after the command is given, hg 
will soon obey the order as far as he can hear your voice. 



CHAPTER lY. 

THE WHISTLE AGAIN! 

WHEN our pupil has become so well established in the 
knowledge of what is required of him. that he will, 
when at quite a distance from you, instaatly s op at the 
signal of the upraised hand and retain his position until given 
permisnon to move, we will advance him another step, and 
teach him the meaning of that other sound of the whisUe, 
th :t we have mentioned as being used to attract his atten- 
tion. Wft always use for this purpose two very short, quick 
toots, with the second one following the first instantly. As 
the meaning of this signal is entirely diif erent from the one that 
he has become accustomed to, so should the sound be also so 
different that he can never mistake the one from the other, 
n r for an instant be in doubt as to what is required of him 
when he hears the sound of the whistle. 

As much depends upon first impressions, we will take good 
c ire that we start right, and that we let him hear the first 
sound of this signal at an opportune moment, and as we 
wish to teach him that this sound is only to attract his at- 
tention, we will be very careful that he is not looking to- 
ward us, but wait until he is at some little distance from us, 
and locking the other way. At the same time care must be 
taken that he is not particularly engaged about anything 
that would ttnd to distract his mind. At just the right 
time you should sound the signal in a short, sharp, quick way, 
but only loud enough for him to hear distinctly, and he will 
at once look around to learn what this means. At the in- 
stant he casts his eye m your direction, raise your hand as a 
signal for him to To lio. Be very sure that your hand is raised 
at the proper time, for, as we have remarked before, first im- 
presssions are very important, particularly in thisles?on, and 
he should instantly see and obey your signal, thus learniag— 
if this course is always pursued — that the two short blasts 
mean nothing in themselves, and are only a warning to call 



HIE ONI 21 

his attention to something of importance that you wish him 
to do. 

You will find it necessary to vary this or he will come to 
associate this signal with your command of To Iw, and at 
ODce stop when he hears it. Now we wish to train him so 
thoroughly in this that, when we come, a little later, to 
tea^ii him to quarter his ground, he wiU not slacken his 
speed at the sound, but merely turn his head in your direc- 
tion, and quick as a flash obey whatever signal you may 
give him ; therefore, when you repeat this lesson, instead of 
raising your hand for him to stop, command him to charge. 
Of course you will see that he is near enough to hear you 
plainly. Perhaps it will be as well at the next trial to sound 
the long note as soon as he looks around, and call him in, 
not forgetting to abundantly caress and praise him when he 
performs his task in a pleasing manner. We think it a very 
good plan to always have in our pocket something good for 
him to eat, and when he minds this long note and comes in 
quickly, we reward him with a bit of something substantial 
as well as with fine words. This system of rewards must 
not be carried too far nor practiced too often, but used oc- 
casionally when he performs his duties in a satisfactory 
manner ; especially when he comes in at Ihe sound of the 
whistle quickly and cheerfully, a little piece of meat will at 
least have no tendency to slacken his speed when next he 
hears this signal. This instantaneous, almost electric obedi- 
ence and cheerful alacrity is most pleasing to witness, espe- 
cially when hunting in company with others whose dogs 
may not be quite up to the standard in this respect. There- 
fore no pains should be spared to so perfect our pupil in 
this, so that when we come to practical work in the field his 
actions shall cause us no disquiet nor reflect discredit upon 
our skill as his teacher. 

There is one word more that our pupil should early become 
accustomed to, and it will be well to introduce its use almost 
at the beginning. This is the word On. You can use this 
word alone or, as many prefer, you can say Go on or Hie on. 
Either or all are well enough, and your pup will learn the 



23 TRAILING vs. BREAKING 

meaning just as quickly even should you indiscriminately 
use all three, as it is the word on every time, and even if 
you should paraphrase it, as a well known sportsman is in 
the habit of doing, and order you dog to Git on, it will make 
no difference. 

Let us charge you once more to be sure and issue all your 
commands in a decided manner, and always in your ordinary 
tone of voice; and do not fail to deliver each one with a 
falling inflection, for we never yet saw the man who issued 
his orders with a rising inflection but was sadly bothered to 
have them obeyed. By using this word, or any c f the above 
variations, when you cluck to him to take his food, he will 
soon understand its meaning if the word instantly follows 
the cluck. Probably he will get the two mixed at first, but 
as you practice him at To ho, he will soon learn what it means; 
for as he improves in this and becomes steady, he should be 
taught to point at gradually increased distances, and the 
word On should be used to move him up ; and in a short 
time, if this is properly managed, he will carefully a .d 
steadily "draw' on a piece of meat for a long distance. 
Great care must be had that you do not confuse him by 
seemingly contradictory orders, for he now thinks that your 
cluck and On mean one and the same thing, and in order to 
tt ach him the difference you must omit the cluck when you 
wish him to a Ivance, and omit the On when you wish him to 
eat the morsel before him. This can be readily accomplished 
by placing tbe meat four or five feet from him, and after he 
has pointed it a short time tell him to Go on, and when he 
is close to it make him To ho once more ; and then cluck to 
him as a signal that he may have it. We always partially 
omit the On after the cluck, a3 soon as he appears to u dar- 
stand its meaning, only using it enough to keep hi-n from for- 
getting it, and as soon as we begin to teach him the differ, nc 3 
we are very careful not to use either one in place of the 
other, until he has the lesson well learned and appears to 
thoroughly understand both signals, when we can safely mix 
them again ; for oftentimes when shooting we may wish to 
move him on, especially when trailing ruffed grouse when 



COMING TO HEEL. 23 

the capture of the bird depends upoa our absolute silence, 
at least so far as words are concerned ; therefore h^ should 
be tanght to advance at the sound of the cluck as well as 
the "vrord On. 

Wh; n well accustomed to the restraint of the chain, he 
■should be taur^ht to come to heel and qui tly walk by your 
side. We greatly prefer that our dog should keep this p si- 
tion with his head j ast opposite our legs, where we can see him 
withou": turning around, instead of having him behind u^ 
In order to teach bim this, quickly and well, you should procure 
a stick, about t ^o fec;t long and an inch in diameter, and 
fas' en a sn^p at one end of it. This you can easily accom- 
plish with the aid of a bit of leather. Now spring the snap 
iii to the ring in bis collar and take a little walk with him. 
We generally manage a few of these first less'-tns at his usual 
meal time bj placing his dish of food at the proper di-tance 
bcfo:e we takehimin hand. He should know nothing of 
his dinner until you lead him to it. When all is reidy <ake 
a firm hold of your end of the stick and walk along at your 
usual gait, coax'ng him to follow. Be sure and have the 
stick at the right angle to keep him 3 u?t where you intend 
to have him go. After one or two s*eps, and when you have 
got him well under way, you must say Hed to him, and re- 
peat the word once or twic3 as you walk along. You ci'i- 
not expect that his behavior will be entirely fanlilesss upon 
the first trial, but no matter how he takes it, lead him 
straight to his dinner and at once unfasten him and let 
bim eat. After a few lessons of this kind, he will 
become perfectly reconciled, and you can gradually ex- 
tend your walk and occasionally omit giving his food 
at the end, and he will soon learn to keep his place 
without the aid of the stick. Then you can exend 
:^ourwa"ks, taking c ire to be very gradual in the increaie 
of time, and to be very sure that he implicitly obeys you and 
does not leave his place for even so much as a second's time, 
until you bid him go on. If this lesson is thoroughly — now do 
not smile at my frequent rape'ition of this word, for i*^ is a 
word that we are very, fond of, and one tha'] we wish to 



24 TMAINING vs. BREAKING. 

«A^W2^7i?^ impress upon your mind as being of ihe greatest 
importance in perfecting our pupil in Ms education— if th s 
lesson is thoroughly learned, you will be spared much trouble 
and worry in the future. Should you have occasion to wak 
the streets, you will not be obliged to whistle at every turn, 
and perhaps to wait and search for your dog, but you wlil 
know just where he is and what he is doing. Then how 
much better is it, when you come to the practical application 
of the knowledge, which you have been to so much trouble 
to impart, and take your dog into the field, to have him 
quietly retain his position by your side instead of rushing 
wildly around at his own sweet will, and compelling you to 
shout yourself hoarse and to unstring your nerves in a con- 
tinual struggle to keep him within bounds, thus placing you 
at a double disadvantage, for the continual noiss not only 
frightens the bird?, causing them to rise out of shot, but the 
constant worry of mind and strain upon the nerves is a very 
prolific source of unsteadiness in shooting. 

Do not neglect giving your pupil plenty of pracice at all 
his lessons, as well as the one just commenced ; not weary- 
ing nor long continued practice, but just enough to keep 
him well up to his work. If you have a spare moment give 
him a little turn at To 7io, ever aiming at perfection ; and bo 
sure to see that he does his work well, and never allow hi^n 
to perform his task in a careless or slovenly manner. You 
should also practice him at Charge, until he will not only 
obey the order readily, but retain his position in a perfec ly 
quiet manner until you shall bid him Hold up. 

He should be made to Charge when you are out walking 
with him; and taught to remain quiet, while you wa:k 
around ; and in a short time you can go quite a distance, 
even out of his sight, and he will patiently await your return. 
Your ordt rs should be given at unexpected times, when he 
i3 not looking for them. By this course you will teach him 
to be always ready to obey, no matter when nor where he 
may hear the signal. He should also be taught to hold his 
position at To 7w, while you walk around and a ^ay from 
him I for it frequently happens, when trailing birds, that you 



STRANGERS. 25 

wish to go round to avoid a mud hole or brier patch, and if 
your dog has been well trained in this, by witnessing one in- 
telligent performance of this p'easing accomplishment, you 
^ ill be more than repaid for all labor expended in teaching 
it to him. 

Many dogs will pay no attention to strangers, and appear 
to care for no one except their masters. Should your pup 
be inclined to notice others, and give you any trouble in this 
respect, you can very easily teach him better, by having some 
one call the dog to him, and give him a few light cuts with a 
switch ; and by changing your assistant every time, and ad- 
ministering two or three doses of this, he will give you vo 
further trouble. If your assistants will fondle him a little 
before administering the switch, the pup will all the sooner 
find out that it is better to have nothing to do with others 
than yourself, and will not bother you later by running to 
every one who may notice him. 



CHAPTER V. 

QTJAETKEING. 

WHAT is more pleasing to the eye of the sportsman 
than the evolutions of a well-trained dog as he 
systematically quarters his ground ? With what satisfaction 
and pleasure we gaze upon his graceful motions as with head 
high in air he gallops across the wind, ever turning at the 
signal 01 the prompings of his own good judgment, and 
crossing just in front covers the whole ground ! Pardonable, 
indeed, is the pride of the sportsman who possesses such an 
animal, for well we know how rare it is to see this per- 
formance in perfection. 

Many dogs seem to possess a sort of instinct for this, and 
without any special training will quarter their ground very 
fairly ; while others appear to have no inherent sense of the 
matter, but will beat straight ahead in whatever direction 
they are started, and neither turn to the right nor left, nor 
stop until they find scent, or are recalled by the whistle. 
Should your pup prove to be of the former class, thank your 
lucky s'ars for the kindly fortune ; but relax not your efforts 
to £0 train him that his performance shall be faultless. On 
the other hand, should he display no aptitude for this, do not 
despair, for with proper training he can be taught to acquit 
himself very fairly, so well, in fact, that his performances will 
compare favorably with those of a large majority of other 
do^ s that he may meet in the field. 

Before commencing his lessons in quartering our pupil 
should fully understand the meaning of the word " O^i," and 
reidily move forward on hearing it. He will also have ac- 
quired some knowledge of the meaning of the motion of your 
hand as indicating the direction that you wish him to take 
flora the practice that you have given him at " To /^o." For 
when you have thrown tbe piece of meat for him to poin% 
he has noticed that this motion is invariably in the direction 
that he saw the me:t thrown, and as he i3 possessed of 



QUARTERING. 27 

reasoning faculties c f no mean order, he has figured it all out 
and bas arrived at correct conclusions in the matfer, and you 
will find upon trial that he will readily start in the direction 
you wish him to take at the fir-st wave of your hand. 
While instructing him in this b anch of h s education we 
. may as well improve the opportunity to get his head in the 
hir where it belongs, for when we get in the field with him 
we shall find this accomplishment to be very desirable ; in- 
deed, I always adopt th'S plan from the first in his practice 
at " To 7io'^ unless he is naturally high-headed ; and even then 
it can do no harm. You must be sure that he is well ad- 
vanced in the lessons already taught before you attempt to 
teach him this. Then when he is very hungry take him into 
a large yard, or still better into some open field where you 
will be frte from interruption by anyone, and having pro- 
vided yourself with two kinds of meat C^s mentioned in his 
first lesson at ^^ To ho'') and also wi h two or three sticks 
about two feet long and as thick as your finger and £harpe:2ed 
at each end, you are ready to commence operations. Y u 
should always enter ths field from the leeward side a 5 in 
actual hunting ; and after making your pupil cha"ge, j^ou 
Will walk away from him about t'irenty yards. Do 
not go direc ly up wind but diagonally across ; thus, 
if the wind is west yo i wi'l go to the northwest or sou'h- 
west, as you may prefer ; and after impaling a piece 
of meat upon the end of one of the sticks, set the other 
end in the ground just firm enough to remain in position. 
I think that it is be tier to set it in a bunch of grass or low 
bushes, that it may be hid from his sight, as it is time to 
teach him that he must depend upon his nose. If there are 
no bushes handy you can easily carry with you a few leafy 
twigs, or if in winter a few pine boughs, and stick down 
one or two in front to hide it from view. In this way place 
one or two more pieces at some little distance from the first 
one and also from each other, taking care to put them so 
that you can work up wind toward them, and be sure that 
you do not forget their location. 
Now return to your pupil and praise and pet him for his 



28 TRAINING m. BBEAKING, 

good behavior in remaining quiet, and reward him with a bi of 
the same kind of meat that is on the stick. After he has eaten 
it, and is intently watching for more, take another piece of 
the same kind and let him smell of it; and then make be- 
lieve throw it in the direction that you wish him to go, which 
shc'uld be at an angle from the meat upon the stick ; thus, if 
the stick is northwest from you, make the motion toward 
the north, which will take him across the wind and also bring 
him near enough to the meat to smell it whenhe gets opposite it. 
Carefully watch him and the very instant that he strikes the 
scent you must make him To ho; then walk up to him and 
praise and pat him, but make him hold his position while 
you advance and pick up the stick and take the meat there- 
from and put it in your pocket, taking good care that he tai 
a good view of the whole performance. Now abundaniJy 
reward him with praise and give him a piece cf the other 
kind of meat to eat. 

After a few moments' rest you can prcceed to look lur 
the next piece in the same manner, and if he shows no sign 
of weariness you can continue to the third. Beyond this I 
do not think it advisable to go at the first les^ion, nor even so 
far if he shows the least sign of having had enough of it. 
Indeed, in all his lessons and practice it is much better to stop 
far short of satiety than to weary and perhaps disgust him 
with too long continued application. Your own good judg- 
ment will generally tell you when to stop, and you will find 
that five minutes', or even one minute's practice, that leaves 
your pupil in a happy frame of mind induced by the bestowal 
of your well merited praise is much better than an hour's 
that finds you both fagged out and disheartened by the fail- 
ure to accomplish satisfactory results. We have learned by 
experience tb at the shorter the time devoted to his lessens 
the better, provided that he is practli;c,i every day, several 
times if you like, and a satisfactory performance of his task 
obtained. 

After a few lessons of this kind, if he goes through the per- 
formance in a satisfactory manner, you can venture a little 
further and try him with a turn by making the motion in the 



QUARTERING. 39 

wroLg direction. Ee very easy and go careful now, for mucli 
depends upon startirg ri^hr. When all is ready wave your 
hand in just the opp'>site direction frosn the one that you 
have been accustomed to, and when he has taken two or 
three strides, sound the two short notes with ycur whistle, 
and at the instant he turns his head toward you, wave your 
hand in the other direction and proceed as in former lessons. 
Should he be loth to turn, you must use good judgment and 
get him used to it v^^ithout getting him discouraged ; per- 
haps by making him To lio when he refuses to turn, and then 
sending him in the new direction you will get safely over the 
difficulty. But it is seldom that you will have any trouble 
if you have puisued a proper course in his earli2r lessons and 
thoroughly instilled into his mind that he must obey. We 
have been often surprised to Ece how rcaiily our i)up would 
at the first trial turn and take tbe direction indicated, thus 
showing that our efforts to make him feel confidence in us 
and that he could implicitly trust us, were crowned with 
success, and t b at instinctively as it were he o'^eytd the motion 
of our hand, ah hough thinking that tiie meat was in the 
opposite direc'ion. 

After you once get this first turn accomplished the rest is 
comparatively easy, but do not hurry him as nothing is 
gainec^, and much may be lost by undue haste ; and you will 
find that if you drill him in this until he is reasonably per- 
fect before going any further, that when, you coii.e to try 
him wiih the second turn, he will all tho more readily com- 
prehend and obey. If at the successive steps in thesa lessons 
you are through with each one before attempting the next, 
you are sure to find your r 'ward for your patient labor in the 
great satisfaction that yo'i will experience when you cast him 
looe among the birds and witness the practical illustration 
of your wisdom and success as a teacher that he will be sure 
to afford you. 

V is better to confine his beat to quite narrow limits at first, 
as this will keep him near you and make it easier for you to 
check him at once, should his performance '.e faulty. Three 
or four strides will generally be fou d sufficient, and in some 



80 TRAINING vs. BREAKING. 

caseg even less will be found enough, and occasionally we 
may have a pupil whose natural apiitude for this may be in- 
dulged from the first and a s ill wider range allowed him ; 
hxxh in either case the range shou d be circumscribed until he 
appears to understand what is required, and to readily and 
cheerfullj obey your signals aDd the different motions of 
your hand. This very iaiportant accomplishment cannot be 
taught in a week or a month, indeed you will do very well if 
you succeed in obtaining fair work out of him in a year ; not 
but loDg before this time he will beat his ground in a manner 
that will cause even old sportsmen to pronounce him a prod- 
igy, but as we are striving for perfection, we will not be 
satisfied with a mediocre performance, but continue persever- 
in dy to practice our pupil until he will not only regularly 
quarter his ground in Iroiit of us and instantly obey each 
signal, but will wheel of his own accord when he reaches a 
a pt oper distmce or com^s to fence, hedge, or stream that he 
should not cross. This knowledge that he must not cross a 
fence or hedge without orders' is of great importance aud 
ea-ily imparted by working him along a fence after lie has 
learned to beat his ground and turn at the signal. He will, 
after a few lessons, understand what you desire and readily 
keep within bounds. Should he at any time transgress and 
go through or over the fecce, care must be taken that he re- 
turns a-, once, and at the precise spot where he went thriu-h. 
This is of great important, for if he is alio wed to return at 
any other point the chances are that ho will fail to realize that 
he has done wrong ; bat if you insist on his returning at the 
exact place, he will at once understand that something is 
wrong and will be more careful in the future. 

While our pup is jet young he should become accustomed 
to the water; most young dogs will take to it readily ; bu"; 
sh uld ha appear to have any fear of it he must be handled 
with care and gradually made acquainted with it in such a 
manner as shall not frighten him. When he has acquired 
some lit lie knowledge and you begin to take him out for a 
walk with you, you should visit with him some small strea:n 
or shallow pond and sit down on the bank and give him time 



QUARTERING 31 

to get acquainted with it. If he shows no inclination to wet 
his feet you will find it a very good plan to hold a piece of 
meat over the water where it is but an inch or two deep, and 
where he cannot get it without putting his feet in it. By 
carefully working him in this way he will soon learn that it 
will not hurt him ; and in a short time he will fearlessly 
wade across the shallow stream with you and soon, if the 
right course is pursued, he will venture anywhere. You 
should never throw him in no matter how much you may feel 
disposed to do so, but rather let him find out for himself that 
water will not hurt him, and he will soon lose all fear. 



CHAPTER YL 

EETEIEYING. 

RETRIEVING is an accomplishment that nearly ail sports- 
men place ahigh value upon, and even its opponents gen- 
erally become quick converts to the practice as SDonasthey are 
fortunate enough to own a dog that is well-trained in this 
almost indispensable branch of canine education. We have 
often been amused at the sudden change in the mind of 
some of these out-spnken adversaries of the practice upon 
their acquisition of a really good retriever. How quickly their 
fears that it will make him unsteady vanish ; how soon their 
ne'ief that it will ruin his nose takes flight, and henceforth 
the system has no stronger advocate until they get another 
worthless animal. We do not propose to argue the question 
here as to whether retrieving is detrimental to the dog or 
cot, but will, instead, state that it is our firm belief that if 
our dog is properly trained in the first place, and kept up to 
his work as he should be, no prssible harm can accrue either 
to his nose or steadiness; and that in no single in?tance 
where evil results have ensued was it the fault of the practice 
or the dog, but entirely the fault of the man ; for the dog is 
certainly not to blame for breaking shot and chasing the 
wing- broken bird when his master sets the example. Neither 
should he be blamed for repeating the indiscretion. Here we 
can see that the check cord and spiked collar could be used 
to very great advantage, but we should by no means .test its 
efficacy upon the neck of the dumb animal. 

We will now resume our lessons, reserving further remarks 
upon this very important subject until we come to actual 
work in the field. We do not think it advisable to commence 
teaching our pup to retrieve until he has shed his puppy 
teeth, and his permanent set are pretty well grown ; for until 
this time his mouth is generally more or less inflamed, and 
his first tef th are sharp as needles ; and we may not hope to 



RETRIEVING. 33 

succeed in achieving that d iinty, delicate mouth — that is so 
indispensable to the good retriever — a 3 certainly as we shall 
if we wait until his gums are hardened and he has become 
somewhat accusomed lo his new teeth. He will also .have 
acquired all tie more experience with the added days, and 
will all the more readily understand what you requite. Wf' 
shall now derive no little benefit from our so-called *' fancv 
training." In fact, should our pupil possess no natural taste 
for retrievingj we shall find it almost indispensable ; and 
should he prove nevf r so hard-headed and never so hard- 
mouthedj we may rest assured that with the help of thiB 
same fancy training we shall be able to bring him safely 
through, and that no doubting fears will disturb our mind 
when we send him for his first bird. 

Our pupil should be well up in all his lessons by this time^ 
and so perfect at To ho that he will not only " draw" on. a 
piece of meat one step at a time, but he must be also so well 
trained that when you cluck to him as a signal that he may 
eat it, he will, after taking it in his mouth instantly, at your 
command of To ho, hold it perfectly still and deliver it into 
your hand without any hesitancy. If this has been thoroughly 
taught him, one-half your task in teaching him to retrieve 
is accomplished, and you will find it an easy matter to com- 
plete his education ; for you will have no trouble in inducing 
him to take a single step toward you when he has the piece 
of meat i 1 his mouth ; and by using great care that you do 
not tax his patience too much by an undue haste to perfect 
him too soon, he will, in a short time, readily take two or 
three steps, and with proper care and good judgment on your 
part he will soon learn to readily bring you the smallest bit 
of meat from across the yard, and to deliver it into your hand 
intact. 

\\ e must again caution yon to go very slow, and to bo 
satisfied with a very little progress. In this lesson especial 
care mu^t be had that each succe sive step is well and 
thoroughly learned bef(;re proceeding any further. Thus, when 
you have succeeded in getting him to take a step or two 
toward you, do not try him at a longer distan-.c until he has 



34 TMAIJSriJVQ vs. BREAKING. 

had considerable practice at this, and will readily come the 
step or two at the word " bring; " or you can use the word 
''fetch " if you prefer, but do not use more than one of them, 
at least until your pupil is further advanced. Of course 
you will have taught him to come to you when called, long 
before this, and by prefacing your call with the word hring, 
or fetch, it will not be long before he will understand its 
meaning ; but until he does understand it and comes readily 
at the word you should not increase the distance. 

There is a great difference ia dogs in learning this ; some 
of them will give you scarcely any trouble and from the first 
appear to know just what you want and take delight in 
bringing anything you may throw for them ; while others 
seem to be stupid and will never bring aaything of their own 
accord. The first is a natural retriever and will be easily 
taught, and also easily spoiled. The last, although harder to 
teach, will make nearly as good a retriever as the former if 
the proper course is pursued. We very much dislike that a 
pup should retrieve before his mouth is all right and his per- 
manent teeth well grown ; for this propensity, if indulged 
before this time is very apt to give you a hard-mouthed dog. 
Hence, for this reason, we never encourage a pup to bring 
anything while at play. In fact he should never for a 
moment be allowed to think that he is a,o play while under 
instruction in any of his lessons, for there is nothing that is 
so conducive to bad behavior and disobedience as this. 
Therefore, make him realize that when you require him to do 
anything you mean work and not play. 

Do not forget that he must never be allowed to eat the 
piece of meat that he has held in his mouth or brought to 
yon, but that he must be rewarded with something different. 
This is a very important point, a,nd you will find it very use- 
ful in perfecting th 3 delicate mouth that we alladmites) 
mucb. You must also insist upon instant obedience to your 
command to drop. This can be obtained at the outset by 
practice with your hand, clasping his muzzle as we have be- 
fore described, and this must be resorted to should he show 
the slightest inclination to hesitate or roll the morsel aro jud 



RETRIEVINO. 35 

in his mouth ; for we are aiming at perfection and must be 
satisfied with nothing short. 

When our pupil has become so proficient in this that he 
will pick up a piece of meat and bring it a few steps and de- 
liver it safe into your hand, you should take a piece of cloth 
and loosely wrap up the meat inside of it, and commence as 
in the first place by putting it in his mouth and proceeding as 
in your first lesson at this. He will probably understand 
what is required and very soon perform as well with this as 
he did with the bare meat ; but should he not like this, you 
must proceed with the same painstaking perseverance that 
we have endeavored t ) impress upon your mind a3 being of 
the utmost importance, until your end is attained. You will 
find that a piece of old cotton cloth that is clean and about as 
large as your two hands will answer admirably. You should 
let him see you wrap it around the meat, that he may the 
more readily understand your object, and if he gives you any 
trouble you must be very careful that you do not try to force 
him too fast. Perhaps you will find it expedient to leave the 
meat partially exposed until he understands what is wanted. 
Or you can merely tie a shred of the cloth to it for a while, 
and very gradually increase the amount until you have it en- 
tirely covered. Your knowledge of his disposition will aid 
your judgment in so timing his lessons and in so conducting 
any new experiments that he shall not become disgusted nor 
sulky, thus givirg you no end of trouble. Your aim should 
be to so handle him that his lessons shall prove a source of 
enjoyment, and he be ever anxious to receive your instruc- 
tions. This you can easily accomplish by a proper system of 
rewards when he does well, and by lavishing upon him un- 
stinted caresses and praise when giving his lessons. To 
bring about this result you may find it advantageous to be 
charry of your caresses at other times and to reserve your 
words of praise for your hours of practice : but this will be 
necessary only in extreme cases. 

When our dog brings in his birds in the faultless manner 
that we have been at so much trouble to teach him, we shall 
want to tee him deliver them into our hand in the same fault- 



36 TRAINING vs. BREAKING. 

less style. And to secure that end "we will teach him to come 
with his captive directly in front of lis and to sit on his 
haunches with his head well up and quietly await our 
pleasure. Proceed to do this by calling him up in front of 
you, and placing one hand upon his hipsand the other under 
hii chin, gently, yet firmly, force his hind parts down while 
you hold up his head, at the same time telling him to " sit." 
This will be enough for the first lesson, and by continuing 
in 1 his manner he will soon sit at the word, and then you 
can give him the order every time that he brings the piece of 
meat, taking care that he sits directly in front of you every 
time and remains quiet for a second or two before delivering 
it ; and in a short time he will become so accustomed to this 
that he will do it of his own accord. We prefer that our 
dog should bring his birds in the good old-fashioned way, by 
taking them well into his mou'h. Th's becomes a necessity 
when the bird is only wing-broken, and to our mind it is far 
more preferable at all times. Especially is it so when among 
close lying birds ; for with the bird in his mouth, back away 
from his nose, he will not be nearly so apt to flush game that 
may be in his path. Still we have trained dogs to fetch the 
bird by one wing, which is easily done by taking half a 
dozen of the stiff wiug feathers of any game bird, or if those 
cannot be had, those of a fowl will answer. These should 
be braded together and then sewed in p'a'ie with stout pack 
thread. 1 his braiding and sewing is to give him a h Id 
with bis teeth eo that he will not be obliged to grip them, thus 
giving him a hard mouth. This should be regularly used 
afttr he has learned to bring his piece of meat. Perhaps it 
wculd be well to tie a bit of meat to it at first, and, when he 
will bring it reanly, a small stone that will weigh t^AO or 
three ounces should be attached to it, and as hs improves 
30U can gradually add to the we'ght until it approaches the 
weight of the bird, say nearly half pound. Care should b ; 
taken to make the feathers fast to the stone so that they will 
not come apart. We do not recommend this style, but as 
many think that it is quite an accomplishment, we give our 
method, which has proved successful. Should you wish to 



RETRIEVING. 37 

adopt this course you should confine your practice entirely 
to this bunch of feathers, and when he brings it readily yo i 
should . vary the performance by a^aching different ar- 
ticles instead of the stone— your knife, for instance, or a 
bunch of keys or a bit of wood, and by .always making hi in 
bring by taking the feathers in his mouth, he will readily 
learn to bring his birds in the same manner if you show him 
how with a few of his first ones by placing the wing in his 
mouth, or perhaps the mere showing him the wing will be 
sufiicient. 

Should you decide for the old-fashioned way, you should 
procure a soft ball. We have foucd a ball of lampwicking 
to be the best possible thing that could be devised— it is soft 
and just about the right size. Th's should be stitched 
through and through, so that it will not unravel, and after 
he brings his bit of meat in good shape you can try him wi h 
this. You will find that the best plan to pursue is to com- 
mence at the beginning, and place it in his mouth as you did 
the first piece of meat, and to pursue the same course by 
asking only one or two steps, until he gets accu-tomed to it. 
And be sure and do not try to accomplish too much at once, 
but go no faster t an your pupil's progress will warrant. 
When you think that it will answer to order him to pick it 
up and bring it to you, watch him very closely, and if there 
is gomg to be any troubls, and he does not seem inclined to 
pick it up readily, you must instantly go to him and place it 
in his mouth, and be content to let him bring it this way for 
th's time, and wait until he is very hungry, and then try 
him by tying a piece of meat to the ball, and he will soon 
1 arn what is required t^nd give no further trouble. When lie 
brings his ball re dily, you should procure some feathers— 
f n)m the body of a game bird if p ssible, but those of a 
fowl will do very wel —and c mmence by sewing two ( r 
t^rce of ti( m :n the ball; and as he becomes accustomed t > 
ihem you should adl m-^TC until the surface is entirely 
covered. This will accustom him to feathers, and 1 e wiU 
n ^t refuse to take a bird in his mouth as we have known 
some dogs to do that were really good retrievers. We should 



38 TRAINING vs. BREAKING. 

not advise you to require your pupil to bring anything 
except bits of meat and this ball ; until he does this in go'^d 
form and appears to fully understand what you require. 
Then you should gradually accustom him to bring other 
articles— a half sheet of newspaper crumpled into a ball 
the s'ze of your fist is a good thing to practice him on, 
always remembering to commence with anything new, by 
first carefully placing it in his mouth and requirng him to 
bring it but a step or two the first time. This may seem 
needless to you, but you will find it necessary with some 
dogs, and wc have ever found that the best results have been 
obtained by strictly following this course, no matter how m- 
telligent our pupil may be, nor how willing to bring anytmng 
that you may wish him to. 



CHAPTER VI.— Continued. 

EETEIEYING. 

SHOULD you desire that your dog become proficient in 
the fancy department of this accomplishment, there is no 
end to the tricks that you may teach him ; but until he is 
fairly proficient in bringing his bit of meat and ball, you 
should confine your prac ice strictly to these; for although 
he may understand you and readily bring anything that you 
may ask him to, you will find it the better way to go slow 
and sure, ever bearing in mind that anything that is worth 
your while to teach him, should be taught ia a thorough 
manner, that he may not forget it should it happen that he 
should go a few days without being called upon to perform 
it. 

We like our dog to carry, as well as to fetc^, and deliver 
his bird to our companion who has shot it ; and we wish him 
so well trained that he will carry any article and lay it down 
at the word " drop"' in any place that we may designate. 
This he may be taught to do understandingly if you pursue 
the proper course with him. To teach him this, you will re- 
quire an assistant, who should be one of 3* our own family, cr 
some one that the dog is well acquainted wi h. When you 
give the first lesson, your assistant should be a few feet from 
you. Calling your pupil to you, give him his ball and bid 
him "carry" it, at the same time motioning with your hand 
in the directirn that he is to go. Your assistant should not 
say a word, but should merely hold out his hand for the ball, 
and when the dog delivers it, \ e should praise and pet him a 
little, while you should make make much of him, and if he 
has performed the task in a pleasing manner, reward him 
with a bit of meat. After a few lessons of this kind, the dis- 
t a: ce can be gradually increased and he will soon carry as 
far as he can see your assistant. If there h any difficulty in 
getting him started right, let your assistant take the ball and 



40 TRAINING vi BREAKING, 

send him to you, until he understands what is wanted, which 
lie will do after a few lessons. Of course, you have told him 
to "drop" every time that he delivers a :iy thing to you, andas 
he knows the meaning of the word, it will be an easy task to 
teach him to lay down his ball or bit of meat in any place 
that you may wish him to. In order that he may learn to 
do this in a proper manner and readily drop his burden at 
the word, and instantly leave it without regret and cine to 
you, we will commence at the beginning and give him th^ 
order for the first time when he is close to us, and with our 
hand extended as if to take it. As soon as ha oiens h's 
mouth the hand should be instantly removed and the article 
allowed to drop on the ground. At once praise and pet him 
and give him to understand that this is all right. On no ac~ 
count must you pick up the article or he may be led to think 
that he should have delivered it into your hand as usual, nor 
should you allow him to pick it up, but a*^ once call him 
away and interest him with something else. This will be 
enough for the first lesson. This should be repeated until 
he appears to understand what is required, before you at- 
tempt to increase the distance. Your pupil must be made 
to understand that when he he irs the order to drop he must 
instantly lose his hold, and leaving the article, at once obay 
whatever signal you may give him. You should so teach 
him that when coming in with anything that you have or- 
dered him to bring he will at the word drop it and wheel at 
the motion of the hand in any direction that you may indi- 
cate. You will derive no little benefit from this accon- 
p'lshment should you ever get in a "hot corner " on a duck 
pass, and not only save yourself much worry, but also spars 
your dog much labor, by bidding him drop his dea 1 bird M;d 
first secure the wounded one, which may make good its es- 
cape unless attended to at once. The same thing often oc- 
curs in quail shooting, and many birds a^e lost that might bo 
brought to bag, did your d g but understand this fancy 
training. 

The careful reader will readily understand that our so- 
called "fancy training" is in reality not so useless as some 



RETRIEVING. 41 

would-be critics would have us believe ; but is a part of our 
system whereby we not only bring out our pupil a " killing" 
dog but we make of him an intelligent companion and elevate 
him to our own sphere, as it were, and by the wonderful de- 
velopment of his reasoning faculties we not only greatly in- 
crease his capacity for intelligently entering into the enjoy- 
ment of tbe ever changing phases of our woodland sports, but 
we greatly add to our own pleasure in witnessirg the mar- 
velous manifestations of reason and intelligence that he will 
display in his encounters with some wary patiiarch of the 
forest, whose tricks and subterfuges will outvie the wily 
strategems of a Tallyrand. 

There are many things that you can readily teach your 
pupil after you once get him fairly started on the road, for 
tbe more you teach him and the more pains you take with 
him the more readily will he understand what you wish. 
You must use great caution when you begin teaching him to 
bring anything that is new to him ; and be very sure that he 
will u::derstand your orders before you issue them. This 
point is worthy your careful consideration and you should 
strive to make yourself perfectly understood at all times. 
This you can easily do by closely watching his disposition 
and the workings of his mind as he performs his tasks. JSome 
dogs are possessed of remarkable reasoning faculties and ap- 
pear intuitively to understand just what you wish, while others 
are slow to learn and require more time to develop their 
latent powers. From personal experience we are well satis- 
fied that the former requires to tie full as much painstaking, 
careful handlitg as the latter in ord; r to perfect his educa- 
tion, and make of him a steady, relia^.le dog. Therefore, un- 
1ps=! you wish to see exemplified the truth of the old saying 
"quck 1 arned, quick forgotten," go slow, and be very sure 
that every step in etch lesson is' well 1 arned before yon 
advance any further. You should never ask your dog to 
1 ring anythingthat will tax his powers too severely, espec ally 
should this rule be observed uutil his education is complete. 
Your judgment will tell you better than to bid him brii g 
ih? crowbar or a piece of custard pie ; y u should like t^iig 



42 TMAINING m. BREAKING. 

refrain from asking him to bring you anytliing tliat is hard 
or bulky, at least until he has arrived at maturity and is well 
established in all his lessons. Many good retrievers are 
ruined by allowing them to bring articles that they are 
obliged to grasp hard in order to hold on to. For this reason 
we never allow our dog to bring our knife nor anything of the 
kind, for just so sure as this is allowed just so sure will the 
dog acquire the habit of pinching his birds. 

We once owned one of the best retrievers that we ever 
saw. In an evil hour we bade him carry into the house 
the earthen plate from which he had eaten his dinner. 
Af ier this it became the regular thing for him to do at every 
meal, but alas that dainty, delicate mouth, which had been 
our pride and boast, was gone forever, and after this every bird 
that he brought that was not stone dead, would show the 
marks of his teeth. We are well aware that there is a great 
difference in dogs in this respect, and that we occasionally 
see one that will bring anything that he can drag along and 
at the same time he will hardly ruffle a feather of a strug- 
gling bird ; but for fear that you may not possess such a para- 
gon we advise you to be very careful about trying any ex- 
periments that may ruin your dog, especially when there is 
no practical benefit to be derived that is at all commensurate 
with the risk that you run. Your hat and gloves and slip- 
pers, you can safely allow him to bring you, and it will take 
but little time to teach him this if you carefully follow the 
instructions that we have given. You can even teach him 
by constant practice to distmguish between them so that 
when you send him for either one he will make no mistake, 
but, understandmg your order, bring the article you wish. 
In order to teach him this you should first accustom him to 
bring each article and at the same time to take pains to teach 
him its name. Take, for instance, your hat, and after plac- 
ing it in his mouth, bid him "bring the hat," and be sure 
to use the same language every time that you practice him 
at this. The same course should be pursued with the gloves 
or a-^y other article that you may wish. After he hai ha I 
practice enough to bring readily the article des"red you can 



RETRIEVING, 43 

place several articles close together. Put your hat and gloves 
with his ball and other light articles, then order him to bring 
the hat, should he pick it up at the fitst trial, as he is very 
likely to do, you must praise and pet him, and as you talk 
to him you should speak the word* 'hat "in order to im- 
press upon his memory the meaning of the word. Th s 
shculd be done in an intelligent manner, perhaps by saying 
he " is a good dog to bring the hat," just as you would talk 
to a boy. Should he pick up his ball, or any other article, 
at once tell him to "drop," and repeat the order for the hat 
and do not allow him to bring you anything els?. After he 
brings the hat readily every time, you can change to some- 
thing else, your gloves for instance; but until he has learned 
the meaning of the words and brings the articles readily, do 
not place the hat near them, nor where he can see it, as it 
may confuse him. When he has become accustomed to the 
gloves you can place the hat with them and he will soon un- 
derstand which to bring. This course should be pursued 
with each article, and in a short time he will understand the 
meaning of the words ; and when you send him for any ar- 
ticle that you have thus taught him the name of, he will 
sel 'om make a mistake. While teaching your pupil to re- 
trive, you should never allow yourself to become careless- 
nor let him do this work in a slovenly manner. Always in- 
sist upon a perfect performance of his task, for if he is once 
allowed to depart from the accustomed manner that you have 
taught him he is sure to get the impression that this is right 
and pleasing to you, and you will have a harder task to set 
him right than you would to have kept him straight 
in the first place ; and' worse than this, he will be 
be very liable to become confused and fail to understand 
just what you want; therefore, firmly insist upon implicit 
obedience to your ordesr, and never allow yourself to deviate 
one iota from the course that you have marked out. 

We have ever found that all intelligent dogs are very prone 
to look to their masters for guidance and instinctively to 
take their cue from them as to their behavior. You should 
take every advantage of this trait, and by cool and collected 



44 TRAINING vs. BREAKING. 

behavior, under all circumstances, strive to impart to yom 
pupil a steadiness that will ever be to you a source of pride. 

This trait is especially to be cultivated when trying to 
m^ke a careful, tender-mouthed retriever. You should 
always handle with the greatest care any article that you are 
tcachiDghim to bring. There appears to be something in 
the careful manner in which you handle the object that is 
potent to impress upon his mind a corresponding carefulness 
in tykiBg hold ' f it that is FOt apparent when Vab object is 
roughly thrown upon the ground ; and we have frequently 
taken pi ins to go, and with ostentatious care lay the article 
down instead of throwing it, and have in this way succeeded 
in obtaining the best of results, especially when our dog was 
a little inclined to be rough or hard-mouthed. 

There is one rule that we have carefully observed for many 
years, and we can assure you that it is well worthy your con- 
sideration. We never allow a pup to retrieve a bird his first 
season, until we have first handled it, and found that it was 
stone dead. You should allow him to point it for a short 
time and then daintily pick it up ; and, after smoothing out 
the feathers very carefully, lay it down in front of him, 
taking care that he can see your every motion. Now retreat 
a few steps and very quietly bid him "bring dead." By 
pursuing this course you will improve, not only his mouth, 
but his steadiness as well ; and also give him a chance to be- 
come acquainted with the difference in the scent between a 
live and a dead bird; and so render him less liable to make a 
mistake by pouncing upon a close-lying bird that chances to 
be near where he has marked the dead bird down. 

Having intimated in the first chapter that we are in favor 
of using the whip wJien it is needed, we will briefly explain. 
As we have before stated we never use the whip until our 
pupil's education is complete, and there is no occasion to re- 
sort to it even then, unless our orders are willfully disobeyed. 
When we find that our pupil is willful, and deliberately re- 
fuses to perform his task, we seek occasion to give him a 
lesson that he will never forget. We are very careful to 
select an occasion for punishment when the order disobey d 



RETRIEVING. 45 

is of a passive character, like To Tio or CJiarge, as better re- 
sults are obtained than when the command is of an active 
nature. Provided with a heavy whip, we take the oppor- 
tunity when our pupil is very much engaged about something 
that will be pretty sure to cause him to disobey, and give 
him the order to Clmrge. If we are positive that lie plainly 
understands and willfully refuses to obey, we instantly take 
him by the collar in such a manner that he cannot bite nor 
break away, and repeating the order, strike him once with 
all our force. Retaining our hold, we calmly wait without 
speaking, long enough to slowly count ten. We then repeat 
the order and blow simultaneously. This we continue until 
our judgment tells us that he has had enough. You may 
depend upon it that a dozen blows thus administered will ac- 
complish more in the way of reform than a hundred 
thrashings as generally inflicted, for your pupil not only 
knows why he is punished, but he has plenty of time between 
thes'rokes to reason it aU out, and he will surely come to the 
conclusion that you really want him to charge when you give 
the order ; and that the best thing that he can do is to in- 
stantly obey. Unless he is uncommonly stubborn you will 
find that one or two such whippings will last him his lifetime. 
Ton must be very careful to issue your commands in your 
ordinary tone of voice ; and on no account must you display 
the least sign of anger or impatience ; and as soon as you are 
through with the punishment you must s;eak a few kindly 
words to him in order to let him understand that you are 
still his loving friend. As soon as he recovers a little, you 
should repeat your order, while he will at once obey, when 
you must pet and praise him without stint, thus indellibly 
impressing npon Ms mind that the way of the canine trans- 
gressor is hard and that obedience will bring a sure reward. 
We very much dislike to punish a dog ; but if this has to be 
donej we greatly prefer that the lesson should be given bef f re 
we take him into the field, as the knowledge thus imparted 
may prevent the necessity of resorting to this extreme when 
among the birds. 



CHAPTER VII. 

rS" THE FIELD. 

TN the preceding chapters all of our work has been of a pre- 
■*- liminary character. We have expended much time and 
patience in order to perfect our pupil in the rudiments of the 
education tbat is so indispensable to that pride of the sports- 
man's hearr, a good dog. Long ago we thought our pet was 
just about perfection in the performance of his duties and 
have anxi; usly awaited the coming of the crisp October days 
that we might put to the test our hopes, and, by actual trial 
in the field, demonstrate how much of wisdom pertains to 
the course that we have pursued. Do we live amon-^ the 
forest-crowned hills, the home of the lordly ruffed grouse ; 
long ago we have located several broods of these regal birds, 
and as we have paid them an occasional visit, how our blood 
has warmed up, how our nerves have thrilled as we fondly 
dreamed of the sport in store for us when the falling leaf 
should proclaim that 

The liunter's glorious days have come, 

The best of all the year ; 
"When through the woodland shades we roam 

With royal sport to cheer. 

Should our home be toward the setting sim on the broad 
prairi-^, whose vast expanse teems with numberless broods of 
the toothsome chicken, with ever-growing delight and satis- 
faction have we wi'.nessed from day to day the added 
strength of the whirring pinion, and with ever-increasing 
impatience at laggard time's slow flight have we awaited the 
dawn of the auspicious day that brings such wealth of joy to 
ihe spirtsman's heart. Or, perchance, om" hopes of happi- 
ness are turning to the pride of the stubbles, the gamy, beauti- 
ful qu'iil. How eagerly have we beaten the feeding grounds, 
and as the merry bevy, with tumultous roar, have burst upon 
our sight, how have we, with throbbing pulse, watched the 
flitting wicgs, and cirefuly marked their flight as they 



IN THE FIELD. 47 

Fettled iu the friendly cover or apon the distant hillside. 
What visions of lithe bounding forms suddenly transformed 
into living statues, ming'ed with flashing brown sprites, the 
cr ck of the gun, and the cloud of fleecy feathers floating io 
air. have filled us with anticipated satisfaction, as we thought 
©t the pleasure iu store for us when the early fiosts should 
call us forth to the field. Or do thoughts of that longbilied 
aristocrat of birds, "woodcock the magoiflcent," alone en- 
gage our thoughts. Well, we know their sure abiding place, 
and as we have paid them our devoir and seen them dart 
through the openings, and heard their querulous whistle, 
how have we thought that the sere and yellow leaf would 
soon be here to bring to us most royal sport. Do not look 
upon this as a digression, for we dearly love the pursuit of 
every one of these favorites; and we hope that you, dear 
reader, like ourselve?, will so train your dog tha^ no matter 
v/here your lines are cast, your pleasant sport is sure. 

Our favorite sport fcince childhood has bpen the pursuit of 
that b; St of ail game birds, the magniiicent ruffed grouse, 
and we have ever found, when our dog was any v; here near 
perfect in circumventing this most wily bird, that but few 
days, ( r perhaps hours, of praciice were required to make 
him equally adept In the pur.-uit ol any of the othtrs. Many 
writers pronounce this beautiful bi d unfit to train a dog 
ijpon ; they rail against his subtle canning, and are unstinted 
in copdemning his swiftness of wing; ami t'^ey will give you 
columns in disparagement of his prv^ternatural wisdomj 
which they miscall wildness, and earnestly advise you to 
keep your young dog away from the rufi'ed grouse's haunts. 
Notwithstanding the evident sincerity of lhes3 writers, we 
must beg to differ from their views, and can only regret that 
their knowledge of the habits of this king of birds is not 
equal to the r skiii in framing sentences for his vilification 

Having decided lo give our pupil bis first practical lessoos 
witli this mos^t potent instructor as cur co-worker, let ui 
'■■ Me away to tlie fields with eager dog and trusty gun," ana 
test the f port so long aniicipated. Oiir pupil should be kepi 
at heel until we reach tiie usual haunt of the birds, whea he 



48 TRAINING' vs. BBEAKINO. 

saould be enc mragt d to go on. Let him go where he pleases, 
taking care only to keep him within bounds and al^a\s 
under your eye, that you may see just wha^. he is doirg. D ) 
not bother him with any orders, if you can possibly avoid it ; 
ubove all, do not make him beat each pardcular corner that 
you may think desirable, but rather allow him to take tbe 
lead and to have his own sweet wiii, content to follow him 
until hQ h -S gained some little insight and become some- 
what accustomed to the new lite just op ning before him. 
See with what eager pleasure he explores thj hd leu m^s 
teiiesof the covert, how his every graceful m )tioa tells of 
joy; how his spatkling eyes mirror his delight; but look, 
and proudly fe ist your eyes upon the welcome sight, he has 
discover, d that something is in the wind and iha 
" heaven bora instinct " within has frozen mm rigid as the 
rock by his side. Choke down that rising lunp in your 
throat ; quiet the qu'ck Ihrobbings of your heart ; and, 
while blessing your good fortune, be cool and collected, f )r 
never more need of cool, deliberate action than now. Y>-ur 
dearest foe is near, and faltering eye or trembling hand will 
insure his triumphant escape and cause you unwelcome dis- 
comfiture. Do not hurry, but, with deliberate haste, walk 
forward and force a lise; calmly now, and, as though oi 
para-^e and about lo shoot at a chip tossed in air, coo y 
bring y ur gun into position, glance along the trusty bar- 
rels and, with " eye of faith and finger of instinct," "cu-, 
loose," and fortune grant your aim be true I The chanc' s 
are greatly against your obtaining a clo.e shot at the firs'-, 
rise, unless among young and unsop'jisticated birds ; but 
shoot you must, neverthe'ess, even sh )uld the flashing form 
be far bc-yond your reach or, as very oftea happens, entirely 
ou*: of sight, for we have not done with him y.t ; ai:d mo % 
potent is ihe sound of gun and whistle of the Lurtlirg lead 
to drive from his crafty brain the wisdom that causes him to 
shun our close acquaintance. Should your shot prove dead y 
and the conduct of your dog be all that you cou'd wish, with 
a loving pat and kindly words, lead your pet straight to 
your victim and as soon as his send.lve ni^se locates the 



IN THE FIELD. i9 

J3ird, at once pet and praise him without stint and talk to 
him as to an intelligent companion. After a few seconds 
you should pick up the bird in a dainty manner, and while 
carefully smoothing out the fea'hers, allow the dog to snuff 
the grate 'ul perfume, but on no account let him mouth ic. 
n* r poke his nose among the feathers, thus teaching him 
that the greatest care must be taken that not a feather should 
be displaced. 

When your pup first shows sign that he has scent, do nois 
on any account speak to him nor make any sign, but allow 
him to act his own pleasure. Should he go through the try- 
Irg ordeai to your satisfaction, congratulate yourself that you 
are possessed of a wonder; should his earnest inclmaciw) 
overpower his icnate sense of duty and cause him to become 
nr steady and Hush the bird, you must at once call him in 
fxiid p^ace him as near as maybe in the exact position that ho 
'rccupieci when he should have pointed, and commanding 
mm to io-?w^ give him to understand that you are displeased 
wnh me performance. If you have killed the bird, and can 
readily find it, you will add to the forca of this lesson if you 
oblige him to retain his position while you go and bring it 
to him, and as you hold it a foot or two from his nose, repeat 
your command of to-ho. This, you will find, will cause 
him to be more careful in the future. Should he become 
demoralized at the rise of the bird and give chase, do not 
despair, but calmly say to-h'>^ and if he disregards the com- 
mand, let him go, and be thankful that he has ambition, con- 
soling yourself with the knowledge that in a short time you 
can eradicate the fault, while the virtue will remain an 1 
afford you great satisfaction in the future. When he re' urns 
you should at once replace him in the position from which ho 
broke, and make him to-ho for a short time, while you talk 
to him abouf the enormity of the offence. It is not advis- 
able to shoot whin he staris to chase, as. should you kill, be 
m^y stize the bird and handle it too roughly for his future 
good. N' ither does the sound of the gun exercise a steady- 
ing influtnce upon his excited nerves. Above all else, do 
not fail to keep perfectly cool yourself under all circumstances, 



50 TRAINING vs. BREAKING. 

and to issue all your commands in your ordinary tone of 
voice, fir there is nothing so conducive to unsteadiness in 
your dog as liis knowledge of the fact that you are demoral- 
ized, and he is sure to become possessed of this knowledge 
almost before it is apparent to you. Th-srefore earnestly 
strive to retain your self c mtrol, for without that you can 
never succeed in turning out a steady dog. 

Should your bird escape the first onslaught, let no common 
occurrence prevent you from immediately following him up. 
Do not undertake this in a half hearted manner, but put your 
whole soul into the work and rest not until you have again 
routed him. Give him a shot as he rises, and if he again es- 
Cipes be not discouraged, but with renewed efforts try him 
again, secure in the knowledge that, can you but, find and 
keep him moving — although he may be the wisest and, c )n- 
sequently, the wildest grouse of them all — at last your 
reward is sure; at last, utterly demoralized by the relentless 
p ri^istency of your pursuit, he has changed his tactics, and, 
q lietly crouching oa the ground wi'h feir a:;d trembling, 
Waits for you to pass. F-ital mistake ! The keen-nosed dog, 
more eager at each successive defeat, again bee ;mes statues- 
que and unerringly indicates the bird's hiding place. N jw is 
the supreme moment. With nerves of steel — hardened by 
the exctement of the long continued chase— you literally kick 
him from his retreat and cooly bring him down. What sat- 
isfaction is in your heart as you smooth his b autif ul plum- 
age. What light is in your eye as you gaz 3 upon his plump 
f 'rm. What pride is yours as you complacdiitly view the 
noble prize so gallantly won. A glance at the speaking coun- 
tenance of your four-footed friend tells you that he, too, is 
happy ; and, our word for it, a few diys among these craf y 
birds Will do more to develope the hunting sense of an intelli- 
gent animal than thrice the time devoted to the pursuit of any 
other game. 



CHAPTER VIIL 

IN THE FIELD. 

HOW rare it is to see a striclly first-class dog. Good ones 
we may find in abundance ; but the paragon, who has 
no failings and all the virtues, is — although often heard of— 
seldom seen. Gla-ncing back through the many years that 
we have ardently followed the delightful sports of the field 
we can call to mind biit few among the many dogs that we 
have seen afield that come up to our standard of excellence, 
and those, almost without exception, received their early 
training among the ruffed grouse. There is &cmelhing per- 
taining to the pursuit of these must canning birds that is po- 
tent to sharpen the wits and develop the intelligence of your 
d. g that you will fail to find accompanying the pursuit of any 
other game. It is for this reason that we endeavor to give 
our dog his first lessons in the field upon tbis biid. We are 
well aware that more than one writer of renown strocgly 
condemns this best of birds as totally unfit to train a dog 
upon, taking the ground that they are so very difficult to 
bring 10 bag ihat the dog becomes discouraged. We know 
that the reverse of this is true, for we have given scores of 
youngsters Iheir first tuition among these noble birds, and 
we have yet to see the one who showed the first indication of 
anything of the kind ; on the contrary, we have ever found 
that— after one or two successful encounters with these most 
wary birds — no matter how long and unsuccessful the chase, 
our pupil's ardor was not checked in the least, but seemed to 
inc ease with each successive defeat. 

As we have before remarked, it is better that nothing be 
said to your dog upon his first introduction to gime, at le^st 
so long as he does nothing wrong, as this is an entirely new 
experience to him, and thould you bother him with orders he 
may become confused and fail to perform nearly as well as 
he would if left entirely alone. Great care must be taken 



53 TMAINING vs. BREAKING. 

that he be not kept too long at work. We have ever found 
that the best results were obtained when we have taken our 
dog home after an hour or two, or even sooner, when his per- 
formance had been satisfactory. We have often taken him 
home at the end of a few minutes even, when everything had 
gone just right and we had by abundant praise and cares'^ea 
impressed indellibly upon his mind that his behavior wa? 
pleasing to us, thus leaving him to ponder over the matter in 
a happy state of m'nd that would cause him to look forward 
with eager anticipation to future enjoyment of other blissful 
hours among the birds, instead of going on and, possibly, be- 
ing obliged to take him off at a time when something of a 
disagreeable nature had occurred that would exert a depress- 
ing influence upon his susceptable mind and, perhaps, cause 
him to dread or, at least, to feel indifference about repeiting 
the performance. After one or two outings, and he has be- 
ci)me s »mewhat accustomed to the new experience, you 
can safely commence to teach him as to what he may and may 
not do; you can in a m'^asure control his range and dictate as 
to the direction that you wish him to take, using gre it care 
that you do not restrain him too much at first, but very 
slowly and by easy steps gradually teach him to look to 
you for guidance ; and if you pursue the proper course h3 
will soon obey your lightest word as readily as when taking 
his regular lessons at home. This resuH caubeobtiined in 
this manner much sooner and much better than by trying 
to control him and to make him do everything just right 
from the start, only bear in miad that when you do order 
him to do anything insist upon prompt obedience every time. 
Among the first things that you should endeavor to instil 
into his mind is the knowledge that he must "work to the 
gun." Thiscan be very easily accomplished if you will pursue 
the proper course. In the first place, under no ci-cumstan- 
ces should he be allowed to flush the birds. Not so much 
perhaps that it will make him unsteady, for many dogs can 
be taugbt to flush their birds to order without detracting 
from their steadiness, but such a course we have ever found 
decidedly unsteadies the wary grouse and renders them less 



IJSr THE FIELD. 53 

liable to lie close tliaa when they are walked up by the hunt- 
er. This is also the case, alt aough in less degree, with the 
quail. vVith ihe woodcock we do not believe that it makes 
much difference, yet we would advise under all circumstan- 
ces, no matter ho vv great the temptation, your dog be not 
allowed to fl ish his bird, for many really good dogs are 
ruined by this practice, besides, as a rule, the more kill- 
lug, as Well as sportsmanlike way, is to walk up your 
bird. This practice you will fiud will soon make you a 
better shot than you can ever hope to be if you constantly 
keep in the openings and trust to the chances there to be 
obtained. Your dog will also ioaprove much faster if you 
pursue this course, for he will instinctively realize that you 
are with him body and soul, and consequently he will 
put fo Ih his best efforts and soon learn the grand secret of 
" working to the gun." This very valuable trait is rarely 
found in a dog unless the gun has first set the example by 
working to him. Ponder this well and try to realize what 
the thoughts of your dog must be when you leave him on his 
point and, sneaking off to one side, or perhaps to his rear 
out of sight, bid him put up the bird Wi.ich he knows full 
well by experience will fly into the cover instead of out. We 
always require our dog while young to stauachly hold his 
point until ordered on. He will easily learn to do this if you 
steady him a few times and do not allow him to stir until 
you are beside him. This, if rightly managed, will prove a 
very killing trait, but unless the proper course is pursued 
your dog is apt to acquire the very bad habit of making false 
prints. Great g3od judgment is required to so conduct his 
training in this that it may prove a source of pleasure instead 
of disappointment. Your knowledge of his disposition will 
aid you in adopting the right course to accomplish the de- 
' sired result. 

As soon as you observe that he has scent command hm 
to To ho, and keep him on point until you are nearly beside 
him, when, without stopping, you must cluck to him to go 
on, accompanying the cluck with a wave of the hand, and 
walk just behind him until he again stops. Should he be 



54 TMAINING 'vs. BREAKUSfG. 

unwilling to move on at your first order, you must not stop, 
neither should you pass by him, but keep stepping', even if 
you have to put your feet in the same place, and again 
cluck, or perhaps you may have to speak to him. Should 
he s ill remain staunch, the chances are that the scent is 
strong, and that the game may bs close by, in which case 
you should advance and flush the bird, and, if the conduct 
of your dog has been irreproachable, kill if you can, but 
on DO account must you shoot unless his bebavior has 
been all that jow could wish ; for one of the most impor- 
tant lessoDS to impress upon his mind is that, juit so surely 
as he does not perform his purtin a propsr maaner, jast 
so surely no birds will be the result. Do not forget, if his 
performance has been worthy, to pet and praise him, while, 
on the other hand, if no bird has been found, you should 
return behind him and order him on, and let him know that 
this is not the prop r way, but that h3 must move on until 
he is near the bird. This is rather a delicate matter, and 
often requires nice discrimination to determine just what to 
do, for there is not a second to be lost in deliberation, and 
instant action should be taken \ for if you hesi:ate your 
d:g may become addicted to making false points or pol- 
tering, and, rather than this, it will be far better to score 
an occasional flush. Should he flush a bird by moving vlj, 
even if you have ordered him on, you must instantly check 
him, and bring him back to the place where he sh'uld have 
remained staunch, and keep him at To ho a short time, whila 
you chide him for t he offence. After a few lessons of this kind 
— perhaps, even, on the second occasion— you should order 
him on a little.before you reach his side, and at each succeed- 
ing time you should d3 this stiU further away, until he will, 
at the motion of the hand, move on wheu you are at 
quite a distance from him. If he is possessed of a reason- 
able amount of intelligence, and you parsu3 the proper 
course, he will soon understand just what you wish, and 
always stop sX the first indication of scent and look at 
you for the signal to go on, instead of following up the 
trail, perhaps out of your sight, and oftentimes causing 



IN THE FIELD. 55 

you no end of trouble to find him. He will aiso soon 
learn to move on of his own accord when the scent is n t 
just to suit, provided he knows that you can see him and are 
comicg his way. This accompli£hmeat is invaluable when 
shoo.tJEg in th'ck covert, or beating the snipe meadows, 
while it can work no possible harm either on the prairie or 
stubble. Of C3urse, we cannot give iastructi ms that will 
cover every case, as there are so many different circum • 
stances connected with the events of a singi.j day, and the 
dispositions of the different animals are also so widely dis- 
sitrilar that it is impossible for us to give anyth'ng more 
iha'i a general outline of the course to be pursued. We 
take it for granted that the reader of ordinary ialelligencc 
who has followed us thus far has gained some idea of 
our system, and that his own good sense, coupled with 
the intimate knowledge that he must possess of the dispo- 
fition and intelligence of his pupil, will safely tide him 
over any minor difficulties that may occur. 



CHAPTER IX. 

WOEKING IN COMPANY. 

IN the previous chaptf rs we have csrefully refrained from 
saying anyth'rig about the great benefit to be derived 
from having a trained dog to assist you in perfecting your 
pupil in his lessons. We have purposely pursued this course 
in order to show the new beginner that he can safely rely 
upon his own resources, and surely bring his pupil through 
all right J without any assistance. Nevertheless we have ever 
lound that an old dog that is well trained and steady is of 
great importance in perfecting tLe pupil in the rudiments as 
well as the higher branches of his education ; and we can- 
not forbear devoting a little space to the subject. In the 
first place our canine co-worker should be thoroughly 
trained and quick to obey ; he must also be very intelligent 
and and of a good disposition. You shoulJ let the two asso- 
ciate together from the firitt, and they will soon become at- 
tached to one another, unless the old dog is unusually surly. 
We do not recommend that the pup should receive any guid- 
ance from the o'd dcg until he is sufficiently grounded in his 
lessons to understand what is required of him. Thus, in 
teachiDg him To 7i6>, after he will go through the perform- 
ance fairly, we take the old dog into the pen with him, and 
after they havo had a little time at play we take the pup in 
our arms, and making sure that he sees all that is going on, 
we place two pieces of meat on the ground about two fe i 
apart, and, calling up the old d jg, make him, at the wora 
To ho, point one of the pieces. We then walk around a 
little, with the pup still in our arms, taking care that he can 
see the performance all the time. Wc then place the pup 
with his nose within a few inches of the second piece, ana 
telling him to To ho, make him wait a few seconds, and then 
cluck as a signal that they can each eat their piece. Thi? 
has a wonderfully steadying effec J upon the pup. especial iv 



I 



WORKING IN COMPANY. m 

when you come to prolong tlie time a little, for he, seeing 
ihattheold dog is perfectly staunch and steady, will soon 
learn to emulate him. He will also acquire the very import- 
ant habit of remaining steady whan in the company of other 
digs ; this We consider of great importance, and under all 
circumstances we accustom the pup to d :)lng his work in the 
presence of his companions, even if we have to impress the ser- 
vices of a cur and chain h-m in one corner of the pen. If this 
latter course has to be adopted, it .is not necessary that it 
should be commenced until our pupil is somewhat advanced 
in his education, as the only object in view is to accustom 
him to perform his duties in the presence of other dogs, and 
to lay the ground work of that steadiness when amon?; 
strangers that is so pleasing to see. So particular arc we in 
this, that we invariably train our pup to point a piece of 
meat and stand perfectly staunch, while hi 5 CDmpanion takes 
the bit and eits it. Tiiis he will readily learn to do if you. 
immediiitely reward him with another piece. If he is well 
trained in this he will not annoy y ^u by going to pieces 
should half a dozen dogs rush in upon the bird that he is 
pointing. 

After our pup i3 well acquainted with the old dog and 
has become accustomed to the chain, they should be coupled 
together for a short time each day until h3 gets used to it. 
We shal find further on that this will be a great Iielp to u^. 
The coupling chain should be short with two good swivels. 
Most persons make a mistake in having the couplng chain 
too long. Four inches is plenty long enough when your 
dogs are anywhere near of a size, and yon will generally find it 
long enough under any circumstances. Should the o^.d dog 
be very high headed the chain can easily be lengthened an 
inch or two. After they go well together and our pu^nl hai 
learned the meaning of To Jio and minds fairly, you will 
find that it will be of great benefit to him to practice him 
when coupled to the old dog, for the example of the latter will 
steady him, which is a matter of great importance, and 
once his mind is thoroughly impressed with the idea that he 
mus ; hold his psition, even when in f:ar that his com- 



68 TRAINING m. BREAKING. 

panion will secure the temptiDg morsal, it will be com- 
paratively easy to keep Mm up to his work. He will also 
learn to remain quiet at charge with much less trouble to 
you if coupled to the old dog. As he grows older and you 
commence to lengthen the lime that he must remain in ths 
prisition, we should by all means recommend this course ; 
indeed we have found that the services of a well trained, 
steady dog are invaluabl 3 all through until our pupil's educa- 
tion is complete. As we have before remarked the as- 
sistance of the old dog should never be called in requisition 
until cur pupil has been taught his lesson and is somewhat 
proficient in its performance, then, he can understandingly 
view tbe old dog as he performs the task, and if he is reason- 
ably iuleHigent he will soon learn to i.nitate his s'.eaciness. 

We s^all also find, if our pup is inclined to work too close 
to us when quarte:ing his ground, that the example of the 
old dog will soon cause him to increase his range. We muci 
prefer that our pup should range freely of his own accord, 
but should he not quite please us in this, we coupb him to 
the old dog and practice them together until we obt An satis- 
factory results. Great caution must be observed m this and 
the lessons must not be too frequent nor too long coi.tlnucd, 
or our pupil will lose his independence and for n ihc very bad 
habit of looking to his companion to cut out the work which 
will seriously detract from his usefulness in the field. 

As it is very desirable that our dog should possess a fair 
amount cf speed, we should so conduct his exercise that 
when we come to cut him loose in the field he will not potter 
and poke, but at once strike a slashing gait and with head 
well up, take to his work like a veteran. Many dogs caa 
never become fast, but if you have followed the instructions 
in selecting your pup that we have laid down, and have 
secured a well formed one with plenty of life and spirit, 
the:e will be no trouble in bringing him out a fairly speedy 
animal ; indeed, we have taken in hand old dogs that were 
decidedly slow, and in a few weeks, by judicious manage- 
mentj have succeeded in turning them out astonishingly fast. 
or course, we cannot give initruetions that wdl enable you 



WORKING IN COMPANY. 59 

to infallibly produce a speedy an'mal, but if you will in- 
telligently follow our plan, you can in most cases succeed in 
accomplishing your purpose. Do not forget, in your anxiety 
f-r speed, that a fast drg v^ith a slow nose is nearly worth- 
less.; therefore, before you attempt to force the pace, you 
should thoroughly satisfy yourself that your pupil's olfactory 
organs are all right ; you can form a nearly correct opinion 
upon this point by carefully watching him while he is at play, 
and taking note of each time that te ''winds" anything 
that attracts him, and paying cloje attention to tbe distance 
he is from the object. This, though not an infa'lible test, 
v;ill generally give you a very good idea of his powers. 
Should he appear to have a quick sensitive nose and you de- 
sire to quicken his gait, try the following plan, and our word 
for it, if you pursue the proper course, you will be astonished 
at the improvement he will show in a few lessons. When 
commencing these lessons you should select for exercise 
ground a large open fie-d, and if the surface is undulating, it 
will be all the better, for when the old dog dif appears over 
the knolls it will make the p'jp all the more eager to join him. 
When you arrive at the ground you should let the old dog go, 
and keep the pup close ct heel until he gets quite impatient, 
taking great care net to overdo the matter by keeping him 
under res' rain t too long, nor on the other hand should you 
let. him go until he is in the proper fra're of mind to put 
forth his best efforts when he hears the welcome signal. If 
jcu have acquired such knowledge of his disposition and 
temper as j( u should have done, you will bo sure, by closely 
watching him, to hit upon ja?t the right instant when his 
impatient f< elings are at their greatest height to give him the 
word to go on. If this order is giv.nin an eager tone, ac- 
companied wllh a quck step or two forward, you will find 
that your pupil will at once start with an eager rush and put 
forth bis best efforts to catch the old dog. You should care- 
fully watch him, and as soon as he slacks his speed, call Mm 
in at once and keep him at heel until he is again impatient, 
when you can repeat the performance. If this course is 
understandingly pursued, your pupil will soon learn that in 



60 TRAINING vs. BREAKING. 

order to have his liberty ho must not potter, and he will in a 
short time astonish you \vih b!s grea'ly improved gait. The 
speed of almost any dog can be improved in this way, but 
the best results are oVtained when your dog is possessed of a 
bigh s'ruEg nervous temperament. With such a one prop- 
erly handled marvelous improvement is sure to follow. 

You will also fiad that the example of the old dog will be 
productive of much good, when you commence accustoming 
ycur pup to the sights and sounds of t-^e stree% you wiil be 
spared much, trcuble in way-wising him by coupling theaa 
together when taking a walk through Iho streets, especially 
if you are in a city where each sight and sound is new to 
your pupil, for he will not only see that his companion is un- 
concerned and thereby acquire confidence, but he will S3on 
learn that he cannot bolt should anything strange occur, and 
in a short lime he will become steady and behave like a 
veteran. 

Backing is an accomplishment that affords us much pleas- 
ure — in fact, one-half of our enjoyment, when shooting over 
a brace of dogs, is in witnessing tho faultless performance of 
a well-trained animal, as ho instantly honors the point of Lis 
companion. This accomplishment is inherent in manyd"gs, 
and is as natural to them as the instinct of pointing. Yet, 
there are many first-class animals who will not back a com- 
panion's point, but will work forward until they obtain the 
scent. This is always unpleasant, and often not only mir^ 
our enjoyment of the sport, but the practice is vcy apt to 
unsteady the other dog, especially when the dog that should 
back thrusts his nose a little ahead, which he is very prone 
to do. The dog that will remain perfectly steady and 
i taunch while his eompanion repeatedly practices this, i?, in- 
deed, a treasure, and worthy fairer treatment. That your 
dog will not be the one to commit so serious a fuult you 
can rest assured, if you have carefully followed our instruc- 
tions ia his early training and will intelligently handle him 
when he first goes into the field with a companion. As we 
have often remarked, first impressions play a very important 
part in the future behavior of your dog, therefore you 



WORKING IN COMPANY. 61 

should be very careful that nothing occurs that -will give him 
auy wrong ideas. The first time that you take him out with 
another dog, they should be well acquainted, if possible, or 
a*; least have time to play together until they become some- 
what used to each other. You should be accompanied by a 
friend, who should have the care of the other dog, while you 
keep your pupil close to heel until the other dog finds and 
comes to a point. Be very careful now, and as soon as your 
dog catches sight of him, raise your hand and bid him To lio, 
and on no account must you stir so much as a finger, but re- 
main perfectly quiet and staunch, as though you were also 
backing, until your companion has flushed the bird. Your 
example will have much to do in perfecting his steadiness, 
and you will find that after a few lessons of this kind — even 
should he possess no natural inclination to back — he will 
understand what is required, and instantly back of his own 
accord as soon as he catches sight of a companion's point. 



CHAPTER X. 

OONOLTJSION. 

WE have given in tlae preceding chapters, as well as we 
were able, the outlines of the course that for more than 
a quarter of a century we have suocnssfully pursued in pre- 
paring our d^gs for lives of usefulness, and we believe, yes, 
we know, that if any one — we care not how wedded he may 
be to the force system— will but give our method a fair trial, 
henceforth the whip and check cord will form no part of his 
kennel appurtenarces, for not alone does our system exercise 
an ennobling influence upon our pupil, thus making him 
much better qualified to become our companion, but the 
better, finer feelings of our own nature are not blunted and 
brutalized by the cruel associations necessarily present when 
the lash is applied to the shrinking form, nor is our enjoy- 
ment of the pleasures of the field marred by constantly 
recurring struggles with the sharer of our sport, who should 
be our obedient as well as loving friend. As tha Hon. 
George Ashmun once remarked to us : " The humane system 
and the force system both accomplish the result of bringing 
man and dog toward the same plane, the one by elevating 
the brute, the other by lowering the humane creature." 

In all our lessons we have endeavored to impress upon the 
reader the great importance of carefully studying the dispo- 
sition of his pupil in order that he might intelligently apply 
their teachings. We have also tried to show the paramount 
nee ssity of a very cautious advance at each successive step. 
Yet so very important a matter do we deem this that we can- 
not forbear again calling your attention to it, and again 
cautioning you to use the utmost care in all your lessons, 
and to so manage that your dog shall not become over- 
trained, for this, although quite common, is a very serious 
fault, and one that will require a long time to overcome, if, 
indeed, you can ever quite eradicate it ; and in order to 
secure that cheerful, willing obedience that is so desirable, it 
will be far better that you should devote plenty of time to 



CONCLUSION. 63 

tbe t)roper development of your pupil than by undue haste to 
bring him out only partially trained or cowed and dis- 
heartened by a too close or too long continued drilling at 
la-ks that should be his delight instead of dread. In perfect- 
ing our pupil ia his work in the field, great care must be 
taken that he always peforms his task in a fauliless manner, 
and no ttought of present enjoyment should allow you for 
an instant to relax tl.at constant surveillance and watchful 
cire that you have bestowed upon him while practicing him 
at home. There is no more prolific cause of the unsteadiness 
and disobedience exhibited by so many of the dogs we meet 
as the overlooking of the little faults that scarcely appear 
worth noticing. As we have before rema-ked, anything 
that is worth the doing is worth doing well, and in no'hing is 
this more apparent than in the education of your dog. We 
don't mean by this that you should be constantly nagging 
him and breaking his heart with an incessant repitition of 
ccmmands, but that when you do give an order you should 
see to it that it is at once obeyed, and to the very letter. 

Especi'^lly shculd he be restrained from manifesting any 
unsteadiness or uneasiness, when in the presence of crippled 
birrls. This can only be accomplished by a faithful adher- 
ence upon your part to the rules that you have established to 
govern his conduct and by a religious setting of the example 
that you wish him to follow, as any excitement upon your part 
or undue haste to secure the bird is sure to be impressed 
upon his susceptible mind and cause you no end of trouble 
in the future. Better by far that you should lose a dozen 
1 irds than that your dog should become unsteady. 
Y< hen it is possible, we always shoot a cripple before our 
young dog, and we have ever found that this course, es- 
pecially when he cnuld see the performance, exercised a 
sti a(-ying influence upon him,/ and also taught him to love 
and have confidence in the gun. After sufiicient experience 
in the field, and when your dog appears to understand just 
what you require of him, he may safely be allowed to cap- 
ture the fluttering bird, with no fear that it will cause him to 
become ur steady or depart f;om the teachings of his early 



64 TMAINING vs. BREAKING. 

days, for the course Ihat we have pursued has wonderfally 
developed his reasoning faculties, and there will be no trouble 
ill easily teaching him to compreh^.nd that when ordered to 
retrieve a crippled bird, nr^ license is thereby granted him u) 
indiscrimately rush for every one that starts. When once 
we have our dog under the perfect control that it has been 
our aim to achieve, it is comparatively an easy matter to keep 
him up to his work, as our knowledge of his disposition and 
his knowledge of our method will render an cccasional word 
all that will be required. 

Having brought teacher and pupil safely afield, we 
shall now regretfully take our leave of them, trusting that 
not entirely in vain have been our labors, and that some at 
least of the new recruits to the vast army of sportsmen may 
be induced to follow the course here marked out, and by their 
succc ss encourage others to try our humane system of training. 
Up^n carefully reviewing our very pleasant task, we are 
painfully impressed with its many shortcomings and imper- 
fections ; the most serious of these Ij? the failure to express 
the ideas that we wish to convey in a satisfactory mannor. 
Although to the best of our ability have we endeavored to 
impart the knowledge gained by a large experience, yet we 
feel that we have but crudel> and imperfectly accomplished 
our purpose. There appears to be an indescribable, in- 
tangible something lacking which our pen is unable to portray 
There is a mysterious and subtle power, inherent in some 
and only gained by others with long experience, that enables 
its possessor to exact an instant and willing obedience from 
the lower animals by a single word or look that others cannot 
compel by vociferous commands or even by blows. We 
have always noticed tliat those who possessed this peculiar 
gift appeared intuitively, as it were, to understand the nature 
and disposition of the animals under their care, and that 
there was invariably an almost electrical and harmonious 
sympathy between them. Would that we could reveal tie 
secret of this mysterious power ; then could we lay aside our 
pen with pride in the belief that we had laid at the feet of 
the sportsmen's shrine a worthy offering. 



THE ONE-EYED GROUSE OF MAPLE RUN. 

SOME years ago we penned the following article, which 
we reproduce here in order to give our readers some 
idea of the pleasures and perils which so endear to us the 
pursuit of " that best of all game birds, the lordly Ruffed 
Grouse." 

First let me describe the locality where these incidents 
transpired, that you may the better understand some of the 
evolutions that I shall endeavor to explain. I feel entirely 
competent to give a description of the run, as even now, 
after the lipse of thirteen years, every rock, tree and shrub ; 
every bubbling spring, each turn and twist of the little brook, 
even to its every merry dim; le and minature cascade with 
its gleesome music, is so indelibly engraved upon the tablets 
cf my memory, that I have only to mount the wings of 
thought, and the entire scene in all its loveliness is before 
me. Here, at the extreme upper end, is a gigantic rock 
maple, whose leaves on this golden October day are gorge- 
ous in their bright array. Just at its foot a silvery spring 
gushes forth,, whose sparkling waters are quaffed by many a 
weary one, as the well-worn path and smooth, white rock at 
its side attest. This fountain is the commencement of the 
little brook that I mentioned. For the first quarter mile of 
its course there is an occasional young maple, while upon 
each side, for four or five rods, beautiful ferns invite the 
shy woodcock to their grateful shade. For the next twenty 
yards, there is an abrupt fall of as many feet, whose steep 
sides are covered with an almost impenetrable growth of 
witch-hazel, which is now in bloom — notice the pleasing 
contrast between those sprays of lemon colored blossoms ard 
the dark green of that hemlock that towers in a perfect cone, 
thirty feet above them — mark well this same hemlock — for 
under its umbrageous branches, a dastardly deed was at- 
tempted that recoiled upon the would-be perpetrator in a 
manner that afforded us heartfelt satisfaction. I will resume 



66 THE GROUSE OF MAPLE RUN. 

the tale farther on. At the foot of the fall, and for nearly 
a raile in length — by a quarter to ha^f a mile in breadth 
— the ground is nearly level and covered with a rank growth 
of alders, growing in bunches, a few feet apart, between 
them the grass is green the whole year round. This lovely 
spot is appropriately called "Woodcock's Delight." What 
thrilling emotions fill my heart as, in fancy, I gaze upon its 
many mazy aisles. It seems but yesterday that I, a happy 
youth, was rambling through these silent shades ; what de- 
licious, glorious hours were these, what blessed communings 
with the God of Nature, prized by me far more than the 
famous bags of woodcock and grouse that I nearly always ob- 
tain here. The scene remains the same; but, alas! my 
beautiful friend of the querulous whistle is gone, I fear for- 
ever, slain by the ruthless hand of him who should protect, 
instead of destroy. Slain by him who, disguised as a sports- 
man, steals in mid-summer upon the callow brood, and mur- 
ders, ay ! murders every one ; murders the enfeebled and 
often sick mother-bird and her unfledged chicks. May the 
curse of all true sportsmen rest upon you ! The wrath of the 
hunter's God already abideth with you, for he suffers not his 
beautiful charges to roam in the places you have desecrated 
and laid waste. Excuse this digression, as my heart is 
broken with the utter desolation that abounds. Down a 
gradual descent of a few yards, covered with a dense growth 
of hazel, below the beautiful spot that I have just 
described, we come to a similar piece of ground of some 
twenty acres in extent, that is fl)wed in winter and 
spring, to furnish motive power for a rickety old saw- 
mill. There are no trees nor brush, except a fringe of wil- 
lows a few yards in width entirely around the edge of the 
now dry pond. Below the mill a rocky gorge, grown 
up with hemlock, leads us down a descent for a hundred 
yards or more, when we come to a level open meadow, 
bordered upon one side by a splendid grove of magnificent 
white oats that covers full fifty acres. Across the meadows 
and two hundred yards away there is a tangled thicket of 
scrub-oak, overgrown with briers. At the lo^er side of 



THE OR0U8E OF MAPLE BUN. 67 

both grove and thicket sunny knolls, partially covered with 
birches, trend obliquely down stream, meeting on the banks 
of the brook some five hundred yards below. From here to 
the river, about a mile away, there is a beautiful cover, 
nearly a mile in width, of alders and birches, with an occa- 
sionil maple and walnut tree. This cover ends on the bank 
of the river, in a narrow grove of immense hemlocks. Trust- 
ing that you will retain enough of my rather tedious descrip- 
tion to follow us through our ardous and long-winded chase, 
we will shoulder our guns and start for Maple Ran. But 
first allow me to introduce you to my companion — jld Tom 
Rood, as thorough a sportsman as it haa ever fallen to my 
lot to encounter— a peifect gentleman, a first-rate shot and 
well skilled in all that pertains to woodcraft. Tom is pos- 
sessed of an abundance of this world's goods, and spends 
most of his time in the forest, as his nut-brown phiz and 
wiry frame attest. When he is not shooting or fishing he is 
abroad communing with nature. There is a vein of poetry 
and also a slight tinge of superstition in his make-up that, 
with his overflowing cheerfulness, make him one of the 
most entertaining companions that I have ever met. Our 
present trip originated with him, as he had the day before, 
while resting on the bank of the river, a: the mouth of the 
brook, seen, to use his words, a "spectre partridge" (ruffed 
grouse). While lying at full length on the grass, this bird 
had flown across the river and alighted within a few feet of 
him. As he looked up, at the slight noise she made, she 
walked up within two yards of his head. Examining her 
closely, he discovered that on the side toward him her eye 
was gone. Just as he had noticed this, she turned her h^ad, 
and Tom solemnly averred that her good eye was aa large 
as that of an ox ; and far more brilliant than tho purest 
diamond, her feathers were of a pale cream color, hsr ruff 
was li^ht cherry, as was the band across her tail. Taking 
this in at a glance, and wishing to secure so unique a speci- 
men, he 1 cached for his gun, when this spectre bird slowly 
sank into the ground, and Tom, awe-struck, left the uncanny 
spot and started for home. When nearly a hundred yards 



68 THE GB0U8E OF MAPLE BUS, 

away, he heard a roar that caused him to look back, and 
there was the spirit, going like a streak, up the run. You 
should have heard Tom tell the story, and have s^ea the 
weird look in his eyes as he described the scene. Always on 
hand when sport was to be had, I readily joined him, as, un- 
doubtedly, this was a wary old bird, that would show us some 
fun. We soon arrived at the place where he had seen her last, and 
commenced a chase, the like of which I never expect to see again. 
We little thought, when we started the dogs, that beautiful 
morning, and giily followed them, so full of life and hope, 
our exuberant spirits wdliog forth in lively joke and quick 
repartee, that evening's shade would find us a wea'^y, used- 
up pair, wending our way homeward with halting steps, and 
no word of cheer to lighten the path. I will not anticipate, 
but try and be calm while I recount the story of our sorrow.^. 
Our dogs. Start and Stop, soon found a trail, and taking our 
usual places— Tom on their right flank and I on the left— we 
slowly moved on, up ttie run. The scent soon became ho% 
and the dogs refusei to advance another step. We went 
ahead to raise the bird, and had gone some distance beyond 
the dogs, when, with a thunderous roar close to my ears, 
this spook of a bird rose behind me. I whirled around and 
catching my foot in something, down I went full length, and 
as it is my practice to shoot when a bird rises near enough, 
my gun went off just as I struck the ground, happily without 
doing any damage. "First knock-down for the spectre," 
cried Tom, who appeared to enjoy the sport even more than 
I did. As he had caught a glimpse of the bird, and was 
sure that it was the one we were looking for, we turned short 
to ihe left and followed on her course, which led toward tha 
upper corner of the cover. The dogs soon struck her trail 
and worked it up nearly to the corner, and came to a full 
stop. Tom, being the nearest, went on the outside, and I 
waked toward him, . expecting of course that one of us 
would get a sure shot. I could not raise the bird, and went 
l)ack to the dog?, and at the word, they moved oa up to the 
wall, and came to a point at a hole that led through to the 
other side. I got them over the wall, and they roaded 



THE GB0JJ8E OF MAPLE RdN. 69 

her several rods in the open lot a few feet from the wall. I 
was in the cover opposite them, and was suddenly startled by 
aloud cry of "mark" from Tom, accompanied by a few 
forcible words, expressive of his disgust. I heard no rise 
and. went over to him to see what it all meant, when 
he expldined that the bird had risen some twenty roda away 
withoui making the slightest noise, and flown down on the 
outside as far as he could see. We were both of us beginning 
to get interested, and followed on in pretty good order, con- 
sidering that we had been outgeneraled at every turn. The 
dogs, after considerable work, found her trail in the open 
lot, and followed it some distance, when we saw her rise a 
long way ahead ; and swing to the left for a birch knoll that 
I have already described as leading up to a scrub oak and 
brier cover. She was not near enough for me to see very 
distinctly, but I could readily see that she was of a very 
light color. Sending Tom ahead to cut her ofT, should she 
attempt to make for the briers, I took the dogs and beat up 
the knoll, and soon had a beautiful point from Start that was 
handsomely backed by Stop. I knew by the eager way old 
Start's jaws were quivering that the bird was close by, and, 
stepping in ahead of him, was disgusted at seeing nothing 
but an ordinary grouse flounder up and make off; but as the 
rulling passion was ever strong, I pocketed my chagrin, and 
drawing a bead on him, brought him down. At the report 
of the gun our one-eyed friend rose twenty rods away, and 
knowing that it was sure death to attempt the briers, flew 
across the open meadows and went for the white oak grove, 
and I lost sight of her among the tops of tiie tallest trees. In 
vain we beat the whole cover in that direction, we could 
get no trace of her. Concluding that she had *Hreed," we 
commenced thumping each tree in the vicinity where I had 
seen her last, and soon routed her. She pitched down from 
the top of a tall tree like a rocket reversed, and not until 
within two or three feet of the ground did sbe alter her 
course. She received our fire with a cool complacency that 
was not shared by us, and skimming along close to the 
ground across the msadow, we saw her swing into the hated 



70 THE GROUSE Off MAPLE MUN. 

brier cover. Ordinarily we did not beat this cover, as it was 
EOt only terribly tliick, but the briers were fearful. But we 
were after this bird, "with all that this implies/' and did 
not stop to count the cost ; bu^, after taking a few moments' 
rest, and eating our lunch, boldly faced the music, and 
were soon forcing our way through the tangled mass. The 
dogs soon found her trail and commenced reading, and for 
more than an hour we followed this goblin bird before we 
could force her to rise, which she finally did quite unex- 
pectedly close by Tom, and just as he had stooped and was 
forcing his way through a pariicularly bad bunch of briers. 
He gamely struggled to an upright position and delivered his 
fire, but could not tell whether botk eyes were open or shut; 
as, when he commenced to straighten up, a brier caught him 
just under bis right eye, and plowed a ghastly furrow across 
his face, and half cut off the lower portion of his ear. When 
1 3 ined him I could not forbear saying : 

' ' First blood for the spectre." 

A grim smile lit up one side of his face— the other side 
was covered with gore, and I was doubtful if he greeted my 
pleasantry with more than half a smile. As our bird had 
flown straight for the mouth of the rocky gully, we soon 
came to water, and after binding up our wounded as well as 
we could, we once more "returned to the charge." Toiling 
up the steep and slippery ascent, we flushed her from be- 
hind a rock, which she kept between her and us until well 
out of shot. Thinking that she would keep on as far as the 
hazel gully, we made a detour to avoid the terrible ascent, 
and skirted the edga until we came to the old mill, when, 
each taking a side of the pond and beating the fringe of wil- 
lows, came together at the head of the pond. We hunted 
up the h.zel gully, and over a large portion of alder cover, 
bringing to bag several .grouse and woodcock, but saw no 
sign of cur especial friend. On our return, we met a man 
who said that he had just started a white partridge from the 
wheel-pit of the old mill, and it had gone down the run. Al- 
though nearly night, with one accord, and without a word, 
wc b ;th wheeled and headed do.'in the gorge. When near 



THE GROUSE OF MAPLE BUN. 71 

the lower end the do^s came to a staunch point. Thinking 
that the bird would go for the briers sgain, I clambered up 
the side, and had just reached the t'^p, when this fiendish 
bird, with a malignity of purpose that I have never seen 
equaled, started and flew straight for my head. Tom could 
not see me, but I s iw him raise his gun and I threw myself 
flat on the ground, just in time to catch half a dozen pellets. 
I had supposed that he was shooting fine shot, but was now 
ready to make oath that each one was bigger than a pump- 
kin. The bird was unharmed, and flew directly over me. 
She did not see me until within four feet of my head, and I 
shiU never forget the scared expression of that bird's coun- 
tenance. The tuft on her head rose right up like the clown'3 
hair in the pantomime, and, convulsively beating the air with 
her wings, she, knowing what to expect, cring:d and 
quivered in mortal fear. Springing to my feet, I d iiiberately 
sighted her across the barrels and pulled the trigger. No re- 
port followed, and, upon examining for the cause, I found 
the main spring broken. I mu it confess that things looked 
a little shaky, and I was almost persuaded that we were, as 
Tom now insisted, pursuing a mylh. It was now sunset, 
and, crest-fallen and weary, we turned our faces toward 
home. The only words spoken by either of us were a mu- 
tual good-nisht, when we parLed at the fork of the road, 
that led to Tom's house. We even forgot that we had any 
birds, and omitted our usual quarrel, of each trying to make 
the other take the game. Sadly 1 traversed the short dis- 
tance home, and letting Start into the kitchen where I knew 
that he would be well cared for, I silently stole up to my 
room and went supperless to bed. 

I was up bt times t'le nex": morning, and after an early 
breakfast, shouldered my spare gun, whistled for Start, and 
took the read for Maple Run, firmly resolved to bring home 
that bird or peiish in the attempt. When I came in sight of 
the fork of the road, there stood Tom leaning on Lis gun 
waiting for me. " I krew that you would be here," said he, 
" although nothing was said about i', for the manner and 
tone w'.riLh \ou fai ' good nig'it a:Sured me tha': yoar heart 



72 THE OMOUSE OF MAPLE MUJS: 

was in the right place, and that you Lad enlisted for the 
war." We made straight for the oak grove, and crossed the 
meadow at the foot of the gorge, and climbing the bank to 
where I had last seen her, took her course and entered the 
briers. We found plenty of birds, and had killed several 
before we found the trail of cur slippery friend. At last the 
dog struck a trail that led straight away for a long distance, 
and we rightly conjectured that we were now on the right 
track. With every nerve at its utmost tension, our guns 
tightly grasped, and eye and ear strained to catch the first 
signal of he r presence, we carefully picked our way through 
the briers until we came within a few fol's of the lower 
right hmd corner. Leaving Tom with the dogs I retraced 
my steps a short distance, and noislessly crawled to the 
edge, and taking a position twenty yards out in the open, 
silently advanced toward the corner, and had reached within 
fair gun-shot of it, and was congratulating myself that I had 
her sure, when, hearing a slight noise at my right, I turned, 
and, just out of shot, saw this confounded bird silent as a 
ghost, flitting away straight out into the open. I Valch d 
her a long distance and saw her alight on the top of a stone- 
wall. I called Tom and explained the si'uatioa to him, and 
was much amused to see the wild, half-scared expression of 
his eyes as he said : 

*' We will stick to her as long as she has a feather left, bn "•, 
I know it is of no use, she will half kill us with her to u- 
foolery, and finally vanish in a cloud of smoke." 
I added : "Or sink into the ground again." 
This shot had its desired effect, and, after a brief look at 
the situation, we decided that I should go so far around tha-. 
she could not see me, and get between her and the cover near 
the river that she would undoubtedly make for, while Tom 
was by a flank movement to send her to me, and after I h id 
killed her we were going back into the briers, to attend to a 
number of birds that we had started there. I went around, 
and carefully keeping out of sight behind a favoring knoll, I 
reached the wall some three or four hundred yards below 
her, and crawling behind a rock, laid down and peered over 



THE GROUSE OF MAPLE BUN. 73 

the top of it, obtaining a g ^od view of tlie wliole per- 
formance. Tom by this time had obtained an oflBng, and 
was bearing down straight for her. When wiihin a hundred 
yards of her, he commenced singing at the top of his voice, 
that well-known hymn : 

" On Jordan's stormy banks I stand," 
and, as the wind was right, I could distinguish every word, 
and was thoroughly enj ^ying the music, as Tom was gifted 
with a grand voice, when I saw him suddenly bring his gun 
to his shoulder, and then, with a half turn, he went down all 
in a heap. Knowing that the bird had started, I strained my 
eyes to get sight of her. I soon saw her just over the wall 
coming straight for me. Waiting until she was within shot, 
and, knowing that I had a dead sure thing on her this time, 
I sprang to my feet, and, facing the way she was going, 
brought my gun to my slioulder and coolly waited until she 
should get past me. Glancing in her direction, I was thun- 
derstruck to find that she was nowhere to be seen. A strange 
unearthly feeling of awe crept over me, my hair commenced 
to rise, my knees knocked together and I felt that I was in- 
deed in the presence of something supernatural. This feeling 
lasted but a second or two, as, upon looking down the wall, 
I saw this phantom, a hundred yards away, rise from under 
its protecting shelter and disappear over the top of the al- 
ders. Feeling that I was deeply wronged, I sadly turned to- 
ward Tom for sympathy, and was surprised to see him sit- 
ting on the ground and beckoning for me to come to him. 
When I got there I found that he had sprained his ank'e 
so badly that he was unable to stand. With shamefacedness 
and many expressions of heartfelt sorrow that he should have 
so far forgotten himself as to even think of so unsportsman- 
like an act, Tom confessed that the singing was to charm the 
bird so that he could get near enough to shoot her before she 
started. Just as he raised his gun to fire, one foot went in- 
t)a hole and, said he, '' I received the reward justly my 
due." 

As we were ne-^r the highway, I went over there and had 
to w ait bat a f e a^ minu' es when a team came along Wo took 



74 THE G BOUSE OB" MAPLE RUN. 

down the fences and soon had Tom £afe in the wagon. Al- 
though he was suffering excrutiating torture, I never 
saw him more cheerful. Joke and story came from his lips 
in a continual stream, and he kept us in a roar all the way- 
home. We got him in the house and, after bathing his foot 
in hot water and seeing him comfortable, I turned to go, 
when he said : 

"I shall have to ride tomorrow and you had better come 
here arid ride over with me." 

Supposing that he was joking, I took my leave. The next 
morning I got an early start and went to his house to see how 
he was. I was greatly surprised to find his team at the door 
and to see him bobbing down the steps, using his gun as a 
cane, crying as he saw me : 

" Come on ! I had a vision last night and feel that this day 
will witness the humiliation of our ghostly friend, notwith- 
standing your superstitious belief in her invulnerability." 

Thinking that his grit was of the "real old sort," I helped 
him get in the wagon. We drove to the saw-mill, and, leav- 
ing Tom in the wagon, where he could command the ap- 
proaches, I took the dogs and started down the run. I had 
gone but a short distance when I met a man who said he had 
started a white partridge several times without getiiug a 
shot, and that she had gone up the run, and was probably in 
the big alder cover. I explained the situation to him, and, 
joining our forces, we prepared to move on the enemy's 
works once more. Going back to Tom, we sent him round 
to the lower end of the cover, while we be it up the fringe of 
wil'ows and the hazel thicket. When Tom arrived at his 
post we heard him shout, and when we came up learned that 
he had started her close to the edge, and that her course was 
still onward and upward. Sending Tom to the upper end 
beyond the big hemlock, to a knoll, where he c )uld overlook 
the whole ground, we separated a few rods and beat up to- 
ward him. We had gone half way up before we found her 
trail. I soon heard her ri=^e some distance ahead, andsas? 
her as she came up over the alders, make straight for the 
Lemlock, and alight ia iti brancucs. ^ A moment later our 



THE GB0U8E OF MAPLE RUN. 75 

ears were saluted with the heavy report of a gun from under 
the tree, followed by a prolonged succession of unearthly 
f-hrieks and yells, that ma le my hair fairly rise. Knowing 
that some one was in serious trouble, we started upon a run 
to see what was the matter. I had gone but a few steps 
when I caught a glimpse of a ghostly streak passing over- 
head. Throwing my gun well ahead of it, I gulled the 
trigger, and was overjoyed to hear that welcome sound so 
dear to the sportsman's heart — a gentle thud as sh 3 struck 
tbe groun d. With quickening pulse I listened to the convul- 
sive flutter with which our gallant spirit-bird gave up her 
ghost. I did not go back for her, but hastened in the direc- 
tion of those blood-curdling yells that did not cease until wo 
struggled through the thicket into the open space under the 
hemlock, where we found an overgrown lout of a boy barging 
head downward on the slippery ledge, with one foot caught 
in a crevice of the rock. We released him unharmed, and 
went up the bank into the open where we f ouad Tom hold- 
ing his sides and laughing like one possessed. As soon as 
we came to him he turned with flashing eyes upjn the 
culprit, and, shaking his long, bony finger at him, exclaimed: 

"Served you right — sbo Jt at a poor defenseless partridge 
up a tree, will you ? The next time you cat such a cap3r I 
hope " 

"That you will sprain your ankle," added I, to the evident 
discomfiture of Tom. 

At this j lacture old Start made his appearance with the 
bird in his mouth. When Tom saw her he exclaimed— and 
sticks to it to this day — that the dog caught her — and that 
none of us were smart enough to ruffla a single one of her 
beautiful feathers. Shadow. 



MY OLD DOG TRIM. 

IT is with mingled ft elings of pleasure and regret that I take 
up my pen to write the biography of my old dog Trim, 
alas ! long since translated to the happy hunting grounds. 
Peace hd with him, and may his future be as pleasant as the 
days spent on earth. May he find in those spirit woodlands 
numberless ruffed grouse, and oltain for a companion some 
congenial human spirit to roam with him their grateful 
shade until I shall come. Then will his cup of happiness 
ever overflow, and the reward so well earned here be his. 

Trim was rather an ordinary looking-pointer, of the old 
Spanish type. His sire came from Cuba, and was said to be 
from stock that had been kept pure for more than a hundred 
years. He was so staunch that he was worthless for hunt- 
ing as the first scent of game that he struck would invariably 
freeze him stiff, and nothing could stir him except brute 
force. I have frequently flushed and killed the bird to his 
point, and after gathering it, and showing it to him and 
vainly trying to induce him to move on— he all the while 
perfectly ligid — I have taken him by the collar and dragged 
him many rods away, only to have him, invariably, as soon 
as I let go of him, rush back to where he found the scent, 
resume his point to stay there, unless forced away, so long 
as the least vestige of taint was in the air. I have known 
him to remain for hours, as I several times left him to his 
fate and woukl seldom see him until the next morning. I 
bred him to a very good-looking lemon and white bitch, very 
fa4 and a good fielder, but rather too delicite for rrugh 
work. The result was a fine litter of eight. I selected the 
subject of the sketch and christened him Trim. He was the 
best dog the world ever produced, and the best one that I 
ever saw. Hold on I I believe I liave got that standard 
quotation a little mixed, but as it is gospel truth let it stand. 



MY OLD DOG TRIM. 77 

I Lai no end of trouble with him in his early days, as he 
did Eot ta';e kindly to the course of instruc'ion that I con- 
sidered indispensable to his future well d<»ing; it was 
literally a course of sprouts to him. After many trials, and 
much tribulation, I succeeded in teaching him to retrieve — 
when he had a mind to. I had no trouble in teaching him 
to charge, as that appeared to be his forte. He was the most 
listless pup that I ever saw, and could discount the original 
"lazy dog." I should have been utterly discouraged had I 
not seen him, when but nine weeks old, make several beauti- 
ful points on small birds ; and on rare occasions I had seea 
him let himself out in wonderful bursts of speed. I was 
hungering and thirsting for a dog that would point his game 
in the same b:au*iful gamey style, and get around in the 
same lively manner, and so was very patient with him, 
hoping, almost against hope, that he would sometimes brace 
up and repay me for my trouble. I kept him until he was 
nearly a year old, when my mother, who had suffered long 
but not always in silence, emphatically told me that she 
would stand it no longer ; Trim must go. F llowing close 
upon this dictum was a long list of his sins cf omission and 
commission, the former consisting mainly in omitting to get 
up from his favorite place before the fire when any one was 
coming, and this performance hid just ended, with herself 
as principal actress, in a wild whirl of dress goods and a sad 
mixing up of woman, dog and big arm chair. There was a 
light in her eye that I did not dare disregard ; therefore, the 
next morning, early, I took Trim about three miles from 
home, to a farmer friend — who had vainly asked me for him 
several times, as he was overrun with woodchucks, and 
thought that the dog would rid him of th-) pests. I left him 
with him upon conditions that he should u-e him well, and 
return him to me in the fall when I commenced hunting.^ 
He thankfully received him and promised to take the best of 
care of him, and return him safe. 

I must confess that my fcelicgs on my homeward journey 
were far from agreeable. I had dope a dishonorable act; I 
had foisted upon my unsuspectiag and guileless farmer friend 



78 MY OLD BOG TRIM, 

a worthless cur. How should 1 ever look him in the face 
again ! On account of this feeling, I did not go to see Trim, 
and it was more than a month before I saw the farmer. It 
was with conscious blusbcs and a deep feelltgof abjection 
tlat I responded to his cheery, "How fare you?" and was 
n^uch surprised when he proceeded to laud Trim to the 
skies. "Why," said he, "I haven't fed him a mouthful 
since he lias been ihcre; he catches a woodchuck every day, 
and sometimes two, and don't eat anything else." I took an 
early opportunity to pay Trim a visit, as, notwithstandicg 
his many faults, I had a warm place in my heart for him. 
I shall never forget the human expression of his eyes as he 
looked up to me when I spoke his name. My eyes were full 
of tears, and I put my arm around his neck, and did not 
fpe< k for some time, and was just thinking that the farmer 
and his wife would think that I was foolish when he said : 
"Mary, I never saw such an expression in any eye, dumb 
or human, but once before in my life, and that was up u der 
the big elm when I asked a cerfain little woman a certain 
lit'le question, and she laid her head on my shoulder and 
l-^okcd just as that dog did ; I really believe he's got a soul, 
and I don't wonder that the boy sets such store by him." 
Ihis was many, many years ago, but the scene was 
impresied indelibly upon my memory, and oftentimes, with 
mental vision, I see that loving glance. 

At the urgent request of the farmer I let Trim remain 
with him until the middle of November, when I brought him 
home and took him out for a hunt. If possible he was 
laz'erlhan ever, and I had hard work to keep him with me; 
he would lie down and I could hardly start him. After a 
while he seemed to understand that it was either travel or 
trouble, and he followed at heel with a dogged look that did 
not augur vtry well for future usefulness. He paid not the 
slightest attention to the other dog, and when I killed a bird 
he took no notice of it whatever, and continued to act in this 
manner during several trips. One day when I saw him walk 
through a bevy of quails and the birds rose all around him, 
fcud he took no more notice of them than if they had been so 



MY OLD BOG TRIM. 79 

many flies, I was utterly discouraged. On my way home 
I was thinking it over, and tbe more I thought the less I 
liked it, and I made up my mind that I would take him out 
the next day and shoot him. When I started out in the 
morning I told my father that I should leave Trim iu the 
swamps unless he showed some signs. It wns hard to make 
up my mind to this, but my patience was enlirely exbausted, 
and I was hearLbroken with his apathetic disposition. I 
hunted through the forenoon with fair success, and ha 1 eaten 
my lunch and was jast ready to start when my other dog 
came to a point, right in the path ; I walked in ahe id aid 
flashed a bevy of quails that fl3W straight down the cart- 
path, about thirty rods, and scattered in some low bru?h on 
the hillside. I followed and picked up several of them, 
when I happened. to think that I had not seen Trim for some 
time; I whistled, but to no purpose, and started back ex- 
pecting to find him, asleep, where I had eaten lunch, but 
when I got into the path, and l)okcd up it, I was never 
more astonished in my life than to see tins brute of a Trim 
on a staunch point, where the birds first started from. My 
mind was in a perfect whirl ; I was comple:ely dazed, and it 
was some little time before I stirred from my tracks. There 
was this dog, that had followed me around for two weeks 
with head and tail down, and had uever in the whole time 
shown the least sign of intelligence, now widj awake, every 
hair bristling with excitement, his head well up, tail straight, 
and a magnificent sight as he stood in the open, just at the 
top of rising ground, his form outlined upon the clear sky, 
his jaws quivering with excitement, and every angle and 
curve of his body expressing eager desire. Here at last was 
the fruition of my long cherished wish for a dog that would 
make a stylish, gamey point. I walked up to him, and with 
many a loving pat and kind word endeavored to make him 
understand that I was in full sympathy with him, and that, 
thenceforth, I was his loving friend. It was laughable to see 
the other dog perform; although one of the best dogs to 
1 ack that I ever owned, he was undoubtedly so much £ur- 
l-ri-cd to see Trim point, that he forgot all about it, and with 



80 MY OLD DOG TRIM, 

a quizzical glance out of the corner of his eye up to me, he 
walked up to him wagging his tiil, and for half a minute 
looked at him with such a comical expression that I could 
not help laughing ; then he touched his nose to him as if to 
see if he were alive, and mov^d a step in front and suddenly 
froze in his tracks. ' I had suppo-ed, until now, that Trim 
was pointing the old scent where th3 birds rose a half hour 
before, but knowing that the old dog would not do this, I 
began to think that there was more to the circus thau ap- 
peared in the bills, so I stepped in, ahead, when up rose a 
quail that had been left. With a mental prayer that I might 
be loaded with straight powder I piled the trigger and had 
the satisfaction of seeing the bird tumble. More than pleased 
with the whole performance, I loaded up and ordered the old 
dog to fetch, when Trim, with a rush like the swoop of au 
eagle, fairly distanced him, and picking up the bird returned, 
at a two-forty gait, and laid it in my hand without ruffling a 
feather. To say that I was happy does not express more 
than half of it ; I was nearly delirious with j :>y, and I fear 
that I cut some foolish capers and said many silly things. It 
was nearly an hour before I felt steady enough to CDutinue 
my hunt. Somehow I did not expect to ever see him make 
another point, and was very agreeably surprised, when I 
ordered the old dog on, to see Trim take the gait of a race- 
horse and quarter his ground like a veteran. He soon struck 
scent, and made a another beautiful point; the old dog 
backed him this time without any misgiving ; I walked up 
to him and gave him a loving pat, when he moved on and I 
followed closi) to him fur a quarter of a mile, and such 
beautiful reading I never saw before; he never showed the 
least doubt or hesitancy, but, with his head high in the air, 
followed the birds through brake and briar patch, and finally 
brought up at the edge of a small clump of bushes. After 
admiring his beautif al ^ -sg a moment I kickel thi bushes, 
when up rose a full bevy of quails. I think that th 3 pxcite- 
ment that I had gone through had unnerved m^, ai I d d 
not harm a feather with either barrel. Taking a li tie time 
to recover my balance, I followed them up, and found t'lem 



MY OLD DOG TRIM. 8i 

among some scaUer d birches. Trim behaved beautifully, 
of his own accord he took the wind, and with head up, he 
would unerriogly locate every bird, 

I had always considered the old dog as first rate, and he 
was a hard dog to beat, but he was just nowhere. Trim 
found aU the birds and pointed them in grand style ; his 
every movement was beautiful to sec; ta^k of the poetry of 
motion ; here it was exemplified. Every stride was a stanza, 
and every poiat that he made was a whole volume. It was 
with feelings of de°p, heartfelt satisfaction that I wended 
my way hoxc. i felt as though I was walking on air; I 
had visions of glorious sport m the future ; henceforth I 
should feast my fill, and enjoy to the full that ecstatic feeling 
of almost perfect bliss that only he can know who has a per- 
fect dog. 

When I told ray father la glowing language the result of 
Prim's last trial he did not entirely disbelieve me, as he knew 
t::at I always carried my little hatche't ; but expressed a 
strong desire to go out wich me the next day and kcj this 
paragon, and judge for himself. The next morning we were 
early afoot and soon arrived at the covert. Giving Trim 
the word he was off like a shot ; we were in an alder run 
some fifty yards in width, with a broad ditch running the 
whole length ; Tiim was covering the whole ground, leaping 
the di'ch at every turn. We had proceeded some distance, 
when, just as he rose to clear the ditch, he struck scent, and, 
as h3 had not fairly extended himself for the leap, in he went 
neck and heels. When we got there we could only see the 
top of his head and the end of his nose ; the re-t of him had 
sunk in the mud with which the ditch was filled ; but he had 
not broken his point ; he was rigid as marble. After a little 
trouble I succeeded in getting across to where I could reach 
him, and, grasping his collar, I landed him on the bank and 
scraped the mud from him. He never moved a muscle, bu% 
if anything, was more ligid than before, I stcf.ped in to 
raise the bird, supposing that thee must ba one close by, 
when he carefully moved forward ; we had gone but a few 
steps before I noticed that his style was altogether different 



83 MY OLD DOG TRIM. 

from that of the day before ; then he was magnificent ; now 
he was glorious. N Jtwitbsianding his bedraggled condition, 
he was a most beautif q1 sight and something wonderful to 
behold, as, with head high in air, his eyes protruding from 
his head, his mou:h partly open and froth covering his lips, 
he followed the trail as I have often imagined the lordly lion 
moves en his prey ; there was no noise and his every motion 
was perfect grace, and when, at last, he came to a stand and 
refused to advance another step we stood some time without . 
speaking, drinking in with our eyes the wonderful picture. 
I broke the weiid spell by advancing a few steps, when, with 
a m'ghty roar, np rose four or five ruffed grouse. Catching 
a glimpse of one that started to fly back, I whirled, and 
throwing my gun in his direction made a snap shot, and was 
rewarded by hearing that soul-satisfying thud as he struck 
the ground. Quickly loading, I bade Trim seek dead; he 
was off like a flash, and soon returned with the bird. 1 
never saw a dumb brute express more pleasure than he; 
circling round me, with arched neck, he proudly car; ied the 
bird, and tried plainly to express his joy and to make me 
understand that this was his game. He was very loth to 
give up the bird, and after I had taken it he seemed so dis- 
appointed that I let him have it again, which pleased him 
very much, and he started off hunting with the bird in his 
mouth. We were very much amused to see him perform, 
and were greatly astonished to see him come to a point, still 
holding the bird in his mouth. Walking up to him he com- 
menced reading, and followed the bird more than a hundred 
yards and fia-lly brought him to bay in a corner. As I 
walked in ahead, the bird rose and I succeeded in bringing 
him down. After loading I attempted to get the bird still in 
his mouth, but he did not want to give it up, and to see what 
he would do I ordered him to seek dead; he soon found 
it, and dropping the one he had he picked up the one just 
killed and brought i'. to me. and, before I had a chance to s.y 
a word, was off and brought me the other one and gave it up 
readily. We concluded that he thought that the first bird 
was some rare specimen, and the only one that he would 



MY OLD DOG TRIM. 83 

ever see, and he was therefore not going to lose sight of it, 
but finding that the " woods were full of them " lie thought 
that I had better carry it. These were the first ruffed grouse 
that he had seen and I made up my mind that, although he 
loved them so well, he would prove their dead'y foe— a 
prediction, I am happy to say, that was abundantly verified 
on many occasions in after years. They were emphatically 
his game, and although he was a remarkable quail and wood- 
cock dog, and appeared to take great delight in their pursuit, 
their was not that earnestness, that high and lofty style that 
took possession of him as soon as he struck tho scent of his 
favorites. A very enthusiastic friend, who shot with me a 
great deal, used to say that if I would bring him a single 
hair, plucked from Trim when he was on a point, that he 
could tell me what bird was before him. 

There was an incident connected with this day's hunt that 
made a deep and lasting impression upon both of us ; it wa=i 
an exhibition of intelligence such as we had never witnessed 
before. Upon our return we passed through the alder run, 
and, on account of better walking, kept on the bank of the 
ditch, with Trim close at heel ; when we arrived at the place 
where he fell in, he stepped in front and looking up at us, 
with a waggish expression in h.s eye and a posiliva grin on 
his face, appeared to enjoy the remembrance of his mishap 
of the morning; we both laughed heartily, and I am sure 
that the d ^g was laughing too. I am well aware that any- 
thing of this kind, when put on paper, loses a very large por- 
tion of its most interesting features; it is utterly impossible 
to depict the ( loquent expression of his eye, or the significant 
wag of his tail; the performances must have been seen to 
be fully appreciated. 

Trim's reasoning faculties were of a high order, and I 
could give you hundreds of instances simUar to the above, 
but for fear of bemg too prolix I will forbear ; this being the 
first time that hj had displayed this wonderful faculty, it 
struck us as being something remarkable. The day was a 
glorious revelation to me ; I cau-^ht a glimpse of some of the 
possibilities of ruffed grouse hunting; hitherto I had hunted 



84 MY OLD DOG TRIM. 

them, as almost every one does, in a haphazard manner, 
th nking the gods when I was lucky enough to bag one, and 
was not very particular how it was done, provided I got it. 
I liked the birds well enough but had always looked upoj 
them as too wiU and cunning for me, and had never spent 
much time upon them, devoting nearly all my time to wood- 
cock and quails ; but this day's sport had convinced me that 
there was a wealth of genuine, soul-satisfying sport in th'^ir 
pursuit that I had not dreimed of, and that no more royal 
game bird graced our forests, an opinion that has been 
strengthened year by year, and to-day I had rather take a 
good dog and follow up some old, wary cock grouse, even if 
I do not get him, than to bag a dozen woodcock or quails. 
Excuse this digression, as I am a little daft on the grouse 
question, and when I get a going do not know when to stop. 
There was one more revelation connected with this day that 
I caught a faint glimpse of that I must mention. I thought 
that I knew about all there was to be known about hunting, 
but before night I had the faintest suspicion of the fac'i tha^. 
the dog knew more than I did about some things, and I had 
hunted but a few d ys with him before every doubt up in the 
subject was removed, and, ever after, when there was any 
conflict of opinion as to where the birds were, I let the dog 
have his own way. This was brought about by observing 
that when I was at fault in marking down a bird that Trim 
had ideas of his own upon the subject, which were generally 
correct ; he was ra- ely at fault, and was possessed of a re- 
markable faculty for locating a flushed bird. He appeared 
to know intuitively just where it wou'd alight. In vain 
would I try to make him hunt closer the particular bit of 
cover \\ here I had seen the bird go down, and, after several 
times tramping the spot out myself to no purpose, he would, 
nearly always, lead me straight to the bird. Once, I shall 
never forget, I tried to make him go back and work over a 
corner that we had just come through, feeling sure that I 
had marked the bird correctly, and that it was lying close in 
there; he would not budge an inch, but looked back at me 
over his shoulder, slightly wagging his tail, and tried to 



MY OLD BOG TRIM. 85 

induce me to follow to the D(xt corner, a few rods to tha 
right. I was vexed at, what I then thought, his sullca 
humor, and, breaking a stick, gave him a beating. As soon 
as I let go of his collar he made a bolt for tha next corner, 
and came to a point just at its edge, and turned back his head 
to see if I was coming. I followed mechanically, feeling very 
uncomfortable, and that somehow I had done wrong. When 
I came up with him he broke his point, and making a detour 
tog et the wind, he S3on had the bird fast. I stepped in 
ahead, and as soon as the bird rose I knew that it was the 
one that I thought I had marked so correctly, as I had shot 
at it and cut a feather or two from its wing, which 
caused it to make a peculiar whistling sound. At the first 
flutter of its wings, there was such a revulsion of feeling 
came over me as I wish never to experience again ; dropping 
my gun 1 ruslied back to the dog and throwing my arms 
around his neck tearfully promised him that never more 
would we have any misunderstanding. Trim appeared to 
realize what was passing in my mind; giving me a loving 
look, out of his wondrous, great brown eyts, he licked my 
face, something he had never done before. From this time 
forward we were in perfect accord, and I never allowed any 
doubt in my mind to influence me when he intimated to the 
contrary. As the season was far advanced I had but few 
m re days' sport, but they were replete with a wonderful 
feeling of complete enjoyment, such as I had never ex- 
perienced beft re. 

Although Trim started off in such grand form he improved 
visibly every time we went out, and it was with deep regret 
that I hung up my gun at the close of the season. I was not 
aware how deep a hold my sporting prDclivities had upon 
me, until I could no longer gratify them. So fascinating had 
been the spoit, enjoyed in the last few weeks, it was along 
time before I couM think or talk about anything else. 

Many moons waxed and waned, and still in my dreams the 
r^ar of the swift winged grouse, as they rose and burst 
through the tangled covert, only to be quickly brought down 
by my unerring aim, and the beautiful and unique position 



86 MY OLD DOG TBIM. 

of Trim, as like Nemesis he silently followed them to their 
,fate, gave me g-reat consolation and made life, during the 
close season, not qnite unendurable. 

It was with happy feelings of glorious anticipation that 
my chosen friend and self, accompanied by Trim, sallied 
forth at early dawn on the first day of the open season. 
Would that I wielded the magic pen of a Herbert to describe 
to you the manifold beauties of that lovely morning, and to 
lead you, step by step, through wooded aisle and open glade, 
and to depict in glowing colors the many interesting scenes 
that were constantly transpiring ; and, m re than all else, 
would I wish to impart to yon a portion of the joyful feel- 
ings that to us were a continual feast ; but as my pen is only 
a fe; ble one, at best, I will leave all th's to your imagination. 
Suffice it to say that Trim more than verified the encomiums 
that I had lavishly bestowed upon him, and conv. rted my 
friend from the error of his ways, woodcock- ward, and made 
him a staunch and lifelong devotee at the shrine of the lordly 
grouse. 

There is no game bird in the world that so taxes the skill 
and patience of dog, and man, as a sly, old cock grouse; 
most fertile in canning resources to evale you and escap'^, 
wheu, seemingly, you have him safe. In vain did they essay 
their most wily stratagems with Trim; be was up to a!! 
their- m.aneuvers, and I could nearly always, tell what par- 
ticular trick a bird was going to try on us by paying close at- 
tention to the dog. Did it attempt to run and gain the 
vantage of distance, from which to rise well out of shot, like 
a whirlwind Trim was after it, and passing on one side of it, 
a few feet ahead, he would turn and point as staunc'i as a 
rock, with the sadly demorslizei bird between us. He 
would rarely fail in forcing the wildest of them to lie securely 
hid until, in numberless instances, I have literally kic ed 
them from their hiding-place, so badly scarei that the veriest 
lyro could easily have. knocked them over as they floundered 
aw^ay in a straigit line, all the conceit, that they could twist 
and double, taken out of them. Did thty endeavor to 
''swing round the circle" and get in our rear, and scare us 



MY OLD DOG TRIM. 87 

almost to death -witi: their infernal clatter, as they rose from 
the path where we had just passed, secure in the kaowled^e 
that if they heard the whistle of th^ shot it wcuM not be in 
Iheir direction, it was generally their last swing, for this per- 
formance had fooled us several times, and appeared to vex 
Trim, and so soon as a curve in the trail led him to suspect 
tbe trek, his hair would rise, and he would back out from 
the trail and swing for them in a manner that they did not 
appear to understand. Circling at break neck speed, until 
he got the wind of the now confused bird, he would hold it 
fast and give me an easy shot. His wonderful reasoning 
powers, and the tact which he displayed, in adapting himself 
to the different moods of the birds, were very prolific in 
filling the bag. "Were they wild and prone to ri^e at a long 
dijtance, he would make as much noise as a pair of unbroken 
steers, and thrash around in the brush in a manner that 
strangers to him would always ridicule ; but he knew what 
he was about, and approachicg the bird in a serpentine 
courso would get as close as he wished, and make his point, 
from which an avalanche c^uld not stir him, and you c^-uld 
go homo and get your dinner, with no fear but that you 
would find him there when you returned, and the bird t^o. 
Were they shy and disposed to skulk and hide, no cat more 
stealthy than he ; with his head always high in air he 
would creep through the tangled thicket, never breaking a 
tw'g, n'^r turning a leaf, and if we did not get the bird it was 
not for the want of a fair shot. As an instance of his re- 
markable sagacity, I will relate an incident that was very 
pV asing to me, and that resulted in tbe capture of a most* 
royal bird. It was just at the outlet of a large swamp, where 
there was a ditch about four feet wide, and as deep, that 
emptied into a small stream which it intersected at right 
a g'c3; along tbe bank of the stream was an alder thicket 
iXw extended up stream ten or twelve rods and then curved 
]0und and joined thesxamp; near the mouth of the ditch 
was a favorite spot from which I had several times started 
a noble b'.rd, which had always got away scot frej ; it would 
manage to put the thicket between itself and myself, and fly 



88 MT OLD DOG TRIM. 

close to the ground uatil out of &\o\ Bound to circumvent 
it, I took a fri ?n 1 and placing him on the bank of the creek, 
I took the inside, between the alders and ditch, and sent the 
dog in the thicket ; he soon struck the trail, and followed it 
down to the ditch; 1 took my stand ab3ut a rol from the 
ditch and directed my companion to walk up t:> the dog and 
fli h the bird, which ho did, and the wiley old fellow, 
taking in the situation at a glance, dived for the dilci and 
flew so low that neither of us could see him. Bat he had 
played his last trick ; there was a streak of dog and mud 
af:er him that force. I him to show himself ; a sullen roar, a 
cloud of feathers, and the gal'ant bird was beaten at his own 
game. Instead of standing perfectly still at the report of the 
gun, as he invariably did. Trim came directly to us, and, 
capering around us, plainly expressed his joy at the result ; 
then going for the bird, he brought it to my friend first, aud, 
arching his neck, marched around him in triumph txo or 
three times, aid then brought it tome. This was the first 
and last time I ever knew him to chase. 

Trim was abs lately pn-fect in the field; there was no 
necessity to tell him where to go ; he c jvercd tbe whole 
ground, and, although av<-ry fast and wide ranger, quartered 
his ground so close, and showed himself so often, that it was 
no trouble to keep track of him. At the faintest indica'ion 
of scent he would come to a point and remain quiet until I 
came up to him, and when he had located his bird neither 
( ncouragement n^r threats could move him an inch. At the 
rise of the bird, or report oC the gun, he remained psrfcctly 
still in whatever position he happend to be, until ordered on. 
lie was one of the best retrievers that I ever saw, both from 
1 ,nd and water, Lever mouthing his birds, or ruffling a feallier. 
I iii'Ver kne^ him to bite a bird but once ; we were hunting 
a wide belt of tim'er when my companion, at some distance 
to my right, signalled a point ; I crossed over and, w hen 
nearly to him, flu:>hed and shot a woodc ck; at the report of 
lhe gun, a grouse rose before the dog and my friend dropp d 
it close by the woodcock; both birds were only winged. 
Trim gathered he grouse first, when, comi-^g in, he stumbled 



MY OLD BOG TRIM. 89 

over the woodcock, which he saw was trying to get away, 
he dropped ihe grouse and seized the woodcock, then seeing 
the grouse making off he changed again; after swapping 
three or four times he deliberately shut his jaws on the 
woodccck, and, laying him down, picked up the grouse, and 
bringing him in re urned and brought the woodcock and 
carried it straight to my friend, reasoning that he would not 
say a word, whereas, if he brought it to me, I might scold 
him for biting it. Hi8 conduct was the more singular, a 3 he 
was very jealous that I should have all the birds, and no one 
could coax him to give up a sinile one. He was an inde- 
fatigable worker and disliked to stop a moment, but would 
work from morning until nigh'^ ; it was hard work to keep 
him quiet when I sat down to rest or eat a lunch. Oae d ly 
we had tramped a long distance, and coming out on the 
sunny side of the woods we sat down and t )ok a long rest ; 
when we got ready to start Trim was iDissing ; I called and 
vhistled, but he did not come; casting my eyes across the 
open 1 ,t I saw him two hundred yards away, at the far edge, 
poln ing directly toward ug. When we came up to him he 
brok3 his p lint, and wheeling round in the opposito direction 
led us a quarter of a mile away and came to a point at the 
edge of a s'uble field; moviQ;^ on we soon flush d a nob'e 
bevy of quail. It was plain to be seen that he had been there 
before, as his footprints were visible on the soft ground ; he 
evidently reasoned that we would never find him, and, to let 
us know that he had found game, delibrately broke his point, 
and retracing his steps to where we could see him, pointedly 
told u? t ) come along. This peculiar trait soon became 
hab'tual with him, and ever after w<3 let him hive his own 
v^ay, knowing that if he found birds he would show himself 
and cause us no trouble to look him up. I found thii hibit 
very useful the next season, as, owing to a severe cat on my 
ankle, I was incapacitated from walking very far. I wou'd 
sit in t'je wagon and let him go, whiling away the moments, 
like the "lone fisherman," in "glorious anticipation," keep- 
ing a sharp watch in ev^ry direction, and wond^riDg at what 
point he wou'd make his appearance. A3 game was very 



90 MY OLD DOG TRIM. 

plenty I was generally reward jd by seeing him come bound- 
ing into open, and, af er a stride or two, strike an attitude, 
the memory of which, even now, after the lapse of nearly 
forty years, causes my heart to bound withdel'ght, and sends 
the hot blood tingling to my fingers ends. When Trim made 
a point there was a magnetic, inspiriting sympathy, amongst 
all beholders, that I can compare to nothing excepting to the 
sensation of an electric shock, and I have yet to see the dog 
that will cause my hair to rise to the elevation it obtained 
when viewing his performances. I cannot better describe 
this feeling than to quote the language of a wood-chopping 
Irishman, near whom Trim came to point. When we came 
up the man had dropped his axe and stood looking at him 
with heaving chest, gaping mouth and wide open eyes. 
'Look at him I " he said; ** did yees iver see the likes of 
tbat: howly Moses, how my hair riz up and the cowld chills 
lun up my back when ho tuck the scon' ; if the howly 
virgin shud tell me there want twinty burds just foroinst 
him, by my sow'l I'd belave the dog furst," 

As an instance of his wonderful power of fascination I 
cannot forbear relating a little incident that afforded as many 
days of first-rate f port. We were hunting close to the farm 
of a man who never allowed shooters to set foot on his prem- 
ises. Trim came to a point a fe^ yards from the liae, an 1 
as we came up to him we observed the m n leaning on the 
fence, looking on. "Hold on," said he, "I want to come 
over and see that dog." We cordially invited him, and the 
eld man became quite excited. "Why," said he, " I hain't 
been so woke up since my old stags runaway with the plow ; 
sec that consarned dog's hair turn toward his head — it beats 
all creation !" We flushed and killed the bird and the. old 
m-^n was perfec'ly delighted. Af^er telling us he came out 
to keep us oil Lis land, he gave us a pressing invitation, 
which he did not have to repeat, to go over and hunt in hin 
woods, ar d he would go with us as he wanted to see that 
dog perform some more. It is needless to say that we went, 
and not only had a good time, bu^, a good dinner, b-^th of 
which were repeated on many subsequent occasions, for he 



MY OLD DOG TRIM. 91 

urgently invited us to nome again and to be sure and let him 
know FO that he c^uld go along and see the fun. 

After a few seasons Trim gained a wonderful knowledge 
of the habits of the game he hunted, particularly his favo - 
ite, the grouse. After he had taken two or three turns in 
the cover he would almost unerringly, indicate by his man- 
ner, the presence or abseccs of game. Did he put on more 
steam, and hunt as though he expected to find game, you 
could take your oath that birds were near, or had been re- 
cently. On the other band, did he slacken his pace, or ex- 
p ess indifference, you might as well strike for some other 
1 jcality as he was rarely mistaken. I soon discovered that 
he uicd his eyes as well as his nose, and, by closely wa'c i- 
ing lim and profiting by his example, I s jon beCiUie quite 
an adept in finding "signs." The faintest indie ition of b.ids, 
where they had scratched among the leaves, the plalnly-lo- 
be-seen wallow holes, where they had das'.ed themselves, a 
stray feather, their droppings, or the partly eaten skunk cab- 
bage were to him as an open book that he literally read as he 
ran. Often have I seen him slow up and, glancing at the 
grouad, throw his head in my direction and give me an ex- 
pressive glance, accompanied by just the faintest wag of ihe 
end of his tail ; then off again, at increased speed, be would 
seldon fill to soon fiid mere tangible proofs of the preseuca 
of birds. U^.on examining these places I would find unmis- 
takable "^sigQS," and soon learned to see them unaid d by 
him. It is but a few days since I caused an inc edulou3 
smile to overspread the countenance of a friend, with whom 
1 was out shooting, by pronouncing the cover we were in to 
be the home of a covey of grouse. We had gone scarcely 
fifty yards, and he was saying that he had hunted this cover 
for more than a dozen years and had never seen a grouse in 
it, when the dog came to a point and we flushed a splendid 
covey of ten or eleven birds, e^ght of wh'cli accompanied us 
home It is a s mrce of pleaaure to me, as well as a cause of 
wonder to my sporting friends, that I am thus able to predict 
the near presence of game. This is one souvenir, left me by old 
Trim, that helps to keep him ever in grateful remembrance. 



93 MY OLD DO (J TRIM, 

Nothing pleased Trim better than to get after a wiley old 
cock grouse. With what pertinacity he woul 1 stick to hi-ii ! 
It was then that he put forth his greatest eff )rts, growiig 
more eagf^r at every rise, until, at last, whea we had tired 
the bird out, or scared him so that we could approach near 
enough for a shot, his hair would turn toward his head and 
he would seem to expand to twicihis usual size At such 
timeshe would turn his head until he ciught my eye, whea be 
would give me a glance of exultation that there was no mis- 
taking. Ordiuarily w.hen I killed a bird, he would bring it 
in and lay it in my hand, with simply a wag of his tail ; but 
when we got one of those wise old birds he wouM Iways 
arch his reck and proudly walk around me once or t ^ice 
before delivering it, and had we extra hard work to circum- 
vent one he would accompany his triumphant march with a 
joyful whine, or, as a friend expressed it, '-Singiog a poean 
of victory." I shall never forgat one famous chase after a 
magnificent old cock that led us a wild tramp up va'-ds of four 
miles, straightaway, from the team, which we di 1 not see 
again until after ten o'clock at night. We started him about 
two o'clock; he rose two hundred yards away, ont from one 
end of an alder run as we entered at the other. I caught a 
glimpse of him as he swung over the tree tops, and got his 
course, which led into heavy timber, where we followed h"m 
a long distance only to see him pitch down from the top of a 
tail tree. Thinking th'^t he would not " tre." again, I kept 
on ; Trim soon found his trai', but before we got within fifty 
yards hi was off again. He purs'ied the same tactics several 
times until my "blood was up," and Trim was more inter- 
ested than I had ever seen him before ; he raged around like 
a mad bull, the fioth flying from his lips and his eye 3 glaring 
like those of a scared cat. It was now getting quite interest- 
ing, as it was nearly night ; I still followed on, thinking thit 
we must 'be getting the old fellow's wind, a supposifion 
which proved correct, for Trim soon came to a point, and 
showed by his actions that he was close on to him. Step- 
ping in front, great wss my chagrin to hear this awful bird 
burst close to me, but on the other side of a bunch of laurel 



31 T OLD DOG TRIM. 93 

that I could neither see through nor over ; I ^^aa mad, but 
DGvertbelesswe went f^r him again. His next flight was 
short and we soon fou d him in a bunch of laurel. Making 
up my mind thit something must be d^-ne, I made a rush for 
the bunch, and, as I went in, heard him derisely chuckle at 
me, and then, with victorious clipping of wing, he was off ; 
but be lit'le knew with what momentum I had charged that 
"forlorn hope." I got through somehow and was in time to 
"cut him down in his pride." How Trim's eyes did sparkle, 
and how bis tail did wiggle ! With what exaltant feelings I 
proceedf d to load, meanwhile, as was my wont, talking to 
Trim and telling him what mighty Nimrods we were. When 
Trim went to bring it I soon saw thu it was only winged, 
but I had no fear, as it was impossible for a wour ded bird to 
get away from him. As he was gone longer than usual I 
stared after him and was much surprised to meet him com- 
ing back with head and tail clear down, and without the 
bird ; when he saw me he sullenly led the way to a ledge of 
rock undir which the confounded bird had taken refuge, Fe- 
cure as though he were a thousand miles awey. 

I will dra^v the curtain here ; our woe was too sacred for 
profane eyes. It w s now sundown, and to avoid the tra^^k- 
less forest I concluded to skirt the edge, as, although a mile 
or two further, it would be easier. We had gone but a short 
distaLce when from under an old tree top out went as many 
as twenty grouse ; droping one right and left, I did not wait 
to.l ad, but sent Trim after them. He brought them in, but 
so badly did he feel about losing that bird that the customary 
wag of his tail was entirely wanting, and he showed no dis- 
position to follow up the birds just started, but g'o-mily fol- 
lowed c'ose fit heel. Not being very well acquainted with 
the ground, and as it was pitch dark, it took us four weary 
hours to get back to the team. Trim sulked all tbe way, and 
not even the meiiory of that beautiful double could dissipate 
the sadness from my mind. 

The next morning, taking a friend a^ong, we drove near to 
the place where I had started so many birds. As soon as we 
stopped to hitch the horse Trim bolted for the ledge at the 



94 MY OLD BOO TRIM. 

top of his speed, and taking the trail of our wounded bird, 
■which had left its hiding place, soon had it -where tricks 
would not save its bacon, and bringing it to us, paraded 
around with it, whining with pleasure, aud finally matched 
up to the horse and rearing up on his hind legs, held the bird 
for him to smell; then bringing it to me he barked and 
c?}perf d until our sides ached laughing at his comical per- 
formances. He had nevtr barked before on any such occa- 
sion, but he felt so good tbat he had got the best of this, the 
wildest bird that we ever saw, that ordinary language failed 
to express his feelings, and several times through the day he 
would stop and look at us, a world of intelligence in his 
glance, and give two or three short barks, b\ which we, 
knowing that he was making remarks about his feat of the 
morning, would respond wiih words of praise which he ap- 
peared fully to understand. A year afterward, when in tbe 
vicinity of the ledge, he looked up in my face and usf d the 
same language, and I am confident from his manner that he 
retained a lively recollection of the aflair. 

I c:iuld fill volumes with interesting incidents connected 
with Trim's career, but I fear that already I have wearied tbe 
patience of the reader, and will say but a few words more. 
For maLy, very many long years I have been anxiously 
seeking the counterpart of old Trim; several times have I 
succeeded in finding something that cime very near to him 
on some ore kind of game, but I have never seen the dog 
that could compare wi h him for all kinds of birds ; and for 
ucfiag,:ing energy, combined with rare judgment, ai:d, far 
more thin all else, for speaking, almost human intelligence, 
he sta-^ds without a rival. 

Graceful ferns, mingled with somber hued mosse^ gently 
wave over his silent resting place ; and, for more than a 
quarter of a century, as each golden Indian summer returns) 
to us, loving hands have plucked from the graceful neck ot 
the lord'y grouse their beautiful plumes, and strewed his 
lowly bed with fitting tribute to the memory of him who 
loved them scf well. • Shadow. 



REARING PUPPIES. 

WE receive many letters from different sections of the 
c ^untry complainJDg of want of success in raising 
puppies. Nearly all of them state that the writers have 
taken great pains with the animals and given them the best 
of care, but in spite of their efforts they sicken and die and, 
in many instances, entire litters are lost. 

We have often thought that perhaps the great mortality 
complained of is owing in a great measure to this constant 
care and delicate nursing that anxious breed'^rs bestow upon 
their pets. Who ever heard of a litter of mongrels that no 
one cared for meeting an untimely end ? This we believe to 
be the key note of the whole matter, and that in order to be 
a successful breeder you must banish all fear for the lives 
and health of the youngsters, and let them shirk for them- 
f^ elves, and above all else give them no drugs or medicines of 
any description, for we are well satisfied that ten puppies 
are killed by dosing where one is benefited, and that the sur- 
vivor is often ruined for long continued work by the injury 
thus wrought. 

Now, we do not wish this to be construed as meaning that 
we are opposed to giving medicine at all times, for we are 
well aware that properly administered, much suffering is 
alleviated, and many valuable lives are saved, but we do 
firmly believe that the ailments of puppy hood should be left 
entirely alone, and that nature, if untrammelled, will effect 
ten times the cures that can be accomplished by the use of 
drugs, especially as administered by the breeders throughout 
the country who have no practical knowledge of their deadly 
effects, nor of the proper time nor remedy tc apply in a very 
large majority of cases that come before them, but anxious 
to do everything in their power to save their darlings, and 



96 REARING PUPPIES. 

fearful thai if somethmg is not done at once the little thing 
will die, they, with the best intentions in the worM, pour 
down his throat some powerful drug that but too often is 
sure to cause the very result they fear, and then, forfooth, 
they wonder why it is that the good die so young, and c in 
only account for the success of their neighbor who raises 
every one of a mongrel litter by the fallacious reasoning that 
the blue bloods are of a higher organization, and conse- 
quently more delicate and harder to rear. That this is not 
true in most cases can be easily damonstrated by foliowlDg 
the advice here given, and giving your high-toned litter the 
same chance for life that your neighbor gives his mongrels. 
We are writing only concerning mature and healthy ani- 
mals, believing that all who are otherwise should be relig- 
iously excluded from the breeding kennel. We have bred 
dogs for m^ny years, and have been uniformly successf al, at 
least so far as bringing our puppies safely thf^ough their early 
days is concerned, and we have accomplished this — or rather 
it has been accomplished— without any trouble or care upon 
ourpait by simply leaving them alone and trusting to nature 
the entire charge of their welfare. True, we always gave 
the mother plenty of healthful food and exercise, and as soon 
as the pups were a few days old removed them from theii- 
stall and made their bed upon the bare ground, and there 
they had to stay until they were weaned. We were often 
ashamed of their dirty appearance, but never of their health. 
We never wash a puppy. We d) not believe that it is of any 
benefit to them, except in looks, and we believe it is often a 
source of trouble in that it induces a cold which may bring 
disease and death. Of course we keep them sheltered from 
cold and inclement weather, but at all times give them plenty 
of room on the ground, where they can dig in the dirt and 
get fresh earth to eat when they wish. After weaning, we 
accustom them to a diet of Indian or oatmeal, well cooked 
and mixed with plenty of thick sour milk. This we have 
found to b3 the best possible thing to expel the worms that 
many times infest them. It is also the best regulator of the 
bowels that we have ever tried, as by a little care in increas- 



REARING PUPPIES, 97 

ing or diminishing the quantity it will always keep them just 
right. We frequently boil meat and use the broth for mak- 
ing their mush, and if their condition is not just to suit we 
give them an occassional meal of well cooked meat, and 
when their teeth begin to trouble them, we give them plenty 
of large bones, with a little meat on them, and never, under 
auy circumstances — for their ordinary ailments— do we give 
them a single dose of medicine, and, above all else, we never 
worry our minds with thoughts or fears that they will not 
live. 

We invite an expression of opinion upon this subject, and 
would like to see the question fully discussed in our columns, 
for, among the many trials and drawbacks encountered by 
breeders, none is more disheartening than to see the light 
fade from the eyes of their pets, as one by one they meet 
their untimely fate. 



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etc. 

Books for Sportsmen. 

SHOOTING : 

Its Appliances, Practice, and Purpose. By James Dalziel Dou- 
gall. A book full of hints and instructions, and of prac- 
tical worth to sportsmen. 380 pages, cloth. Price, $3. 

FOREST AND STREAM BIRD NOTES. 

An index and summary of all the ornithological matter in the 
first twelve volumes of the Forest and Stream. Com- 
prises descriptions of the habits of all American game 
birds. Compiled by H. B. Bailey. 200 pages. Price, $1.50. 

SHORE BIRDS. 

Contains : I. — Haunts and Habits ; II. — Range and Migra- 
tions ; III. — A Morning Without the Birds ; IV. — Nomen- 
clature; V. — Localities; VI. — Blinds and Decoys. Pam- 
phlet, 45 pages. Price, 15 cents. 



FRED, SAUTER, 

TiMMST m Nim, 




Collector and Importer of the different 
Branches of Natural History. 

199 WILLIAM STREET, near FrankfoH SU 



All orders for mounting Birds, Animals, Reptiles, Heads of 
Quadrupeds, etc., executed in an artistic manner. Skins tanned 
and dressed with the heads and paws stuffed suitable for Robes 
or Rugs. 

A large assortment of Bird and Animal Skins, as well as 
stufEed specimens for scientific purposes, singly or in groups, 
always on hand. 

Home decorations, such as horns of foreign and native ani- 
mals, heads of deer, moose, elk, fox, bear, wolf, dog, etc. 

Panels with game-birds and animals, flying birds, cases of 
birds, and other curiosities sold at reasonable prices. 

ARTIFICIAL EYES FOR SALE. 



Thurber's EeluUe 

—FOR THE— 

Hunter aiui the Angler, 

— OR — 

TRAVELER BY LAND OR SEA. 



Thurber's Reliable Canned Goods will be found 
just the articles required. They are packed in handy 
and convenient packages, and are ready for use at a 
moment's notice. Can be served hot or cold. The 
following will be found specially adapted to the re- 
quirements of the sportsman : 

THUKBER'S BONED TURKEY, 
ROAST " 

BONED CHICKEN, 
ROAST " 

LUNCH HAM, 

WHOLE BONELESS COOKED HAMS, 
LUNCH TONGUE, 
ROLLED OX TONGUE, 
POTTED MEATS, 
Ham, Tongue, Beef, Turkey, Chicken, Duck, and Game. 

Also a full assortment of Canned Vegetables and 
Fruits packed where grown and while fresh and de- 
licious. 

ROASTED COFFEE, in Pound Packets (not ground). 
No. 34.— STRONG AND PUNGENT. 
No. 41.— MIliU AND RICH. 

Sold by all first-class grocers and dealers in Rehable 
Food Products. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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